Methods for growing and imprinting fish using an odorant

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to methods of imprinting fish in freshwater with at least one odorant for the fish and causing the imprinted fish to react to the odorant in seawater, wherein the fish are maintained in freshwater prior to transfer to seawater, The method includes: adding at least one Polyvalent Cation Sensing Receptor (PVCR) modulator to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to modulate expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR, the PVCR modulator being one which alters olfactory sensing of the fish to the odorant; adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, the feed containing the odorant and an amount of NaCl sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of the PVCR modulator in serum of the fish upon consumption of the feed, whereby the fish are imprinted with the odorant; transferring the imprinted fish to seawater; and providing a source of said odorant in the seawater to which the imprinted fish are transferred, thereby causing the imprinted fish to react to said odorant. The present invention also includes methods of homing or attracting fish, as well as methods for repelling fish by modulating the expression and/or sensitivity of the PVCR in the olfactory apparatus of the fish.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/268,051, filed on Oct. 8, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,900, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/328,464, filed Oct. 11, 2001. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although great advantages exist in being able to attract or repel fish, such methods have not yet been well developed or understood. Hence, improved methods for attracting or repelling fish are needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a discovery that fish can be imprinted with an odorant (e.g., an attractant or repellant) so that, when the fish are later exposed to the odorant, they can react to the odorant e.g., distinguish the odorant or be sensitized to the odorant through manipulating fundamental biological mechanisms of the fish. In particular, the present invention encompasses the discovery that a protein, called a Polyvalent Cation Sensing Receptor (PVCR), has a role in allowing fish to “sense” ions and amino acids, and works with odorant receptors, under certain conditions, to imprint fish with an odorant. The PVCR interacts with odorant receptors to alter olfactory sensing capabilities of the fish.

The present invention applies to several types of aquatic species including freshwater fish, marine fish and anadromous fish. In one embodiment, anadromous fish can be imprinted during various phases including the larval stage (e.g., yolk sac larvae, or first feeding larvae) or the smoltification stage. In nature, many anadromous fish live most of their adulthood in seawater, but swim upstream to freshwater for the purpose of breeding. As a result, anadromous fish hatch from their eggs in freshwater. As these fish grow, they swim downstream and gradually adapt to the seawater. To raise these fish, fish hatcheries transfer these fish from freshwater to seawater when they undergo smoltification. Smoltification is the stage at which fish become able to adapt from freshwater to seawater. Accordingly, while fish are being imprinted to an odorant, they are maintained in freshwater, and subsequently transferred to seawater.

The present invention relates to methods of imprinting fish to at least one fish odorant (e.g., fish attractant or fish repellant) by adding at least one PVCR modulator to a first body of water (e.g., freshwater) in an amount sufficient to modulate expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR; and adding feed for fish consumption to the water. The feed contains at least one odorant and an amount of NaCl sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of the PVCR modulator in serum of the fish. The PVCR modulator alters olfactory sensing of fish to the odorant. Modulated expression of at least one PVCR can be maintained until the fish are transferred to a second body of water. In one embodiment, fish (e.g., marine fish or anadromous fish) can be transferred to seawater, and in another embodiment fish (e.g., freshwater fish) can be transferred to freshwater without the PVCR modulator added to it. In yet another embodiment, fish can be transferred to freshwater having the PVCR modulator, but without the odorant added to it. The present invention also includes providing a source of said odorant after fish have been transferred to the second body of water. When the fish are transferred to the second body of water, the olfactory sensing apparatus of the fish can distinguish the odorant or are sensitized to the odorant. Altering olfactory sensing of fish to the odorant further includes generating an olfactory nerve impulse after binding of the odorant to the olfactory lamellae in the fish. The methods also include adding a PVCR modulator to the feed. Examples of fish attractants are amino acids, nucleotides, organic compounds, and combination thereof. Compounds derived from performing a mammalian finger rinse, for example, can be used as a fish repellant.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to methods of imprinting fish to at least one odorant for fish by adding at least one PVCR modulator to the first body of water (e.g., freshwater) in an amount sufficient to modulate expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR; adding at least one odorant to the water; and adding feed for fish consumption to the water, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of the PVCR modulator in serum of the fish. The PVCR modulator alters olfactory sensing of fish to the odorant. The present invention also includes providing a source of said odorant after fish have been transferred to a second body of water. When the fish are transferred to the second body of water, the olfactory sensing apparatus of the fish can distinguish the odorant or are sensitized to the odorant.

The present invention also includes methods for growing anadromous fish so that the anadromous fish are sensitized to at least one fish odorant by imprinting the anadromous fish with the fish attractant in freshwater during smoltification, as described herein; transferring anadromous fish to seawater; and adding feed for fish consumption to the seawater, wherein the feed contains a source of nutrition and the attractant used for imprinting. When transferred to seawater, the olfactory sensing apparatus of these imprinted fish can distinguish the attractant or are sensitized to the attractant.

The invention also embodies feed for consumption by anadromous fish in freshwater. The feed comprises one or more sources of nutrition; an amount of NaCl between about 10,000 mg/kg and about 100,000 mg/kg; and at least one fish attractant. The feed can further include adding a PVCR modulator such as tryptophan in an amount between about 1 and about 10 gm/kg. Similarly, the present invention includes feeds for consumption by anadromous fish in seawater. This seawater feed comprises a source of nutrition; and the fish attractant to which fish have been imprinted.

The present invention also relates to methods of identifying a fish odorant and its modulation by at least one PVCR present in the olfactory system of fish, by exposing the odorant to be tested to the tissue of fish, wherein at least one odorant receptor and at least one PVCR are present in tissue; and assessing the magnitude or characteristics of an olfactory nerve response. The presence of an olfactory nerve impulse indicates the compound is an odorant or PVCR modulator in the water in contact with the fish olfactory epithelium. The absence of a olfactory nerve impulse indicates the compound is not an odorant or PVCR modulator in the water in contact with the fish olfactory epithelium. Alterations in the magnitude or characteristics of the olfactory nerve impulse upon exposure of the olfactory epithelium to various combinations of odorants and PVCR modulators indicates modifications of the olfactory nerve signals from odorant receptors and/or PVCR proteins present in this tissue. Such assays can be further modified by exposure of the fish to a PVCR modulator present in freshwater as well as feed added to the freshwater before assay using these methods. Assays known in the art such as behavioral attractant assays or behavioral avoidance assays can be performed to determine whether the odorant is an attractant or repellant, respectively.

The present invention includes methods of increasing food consumption of anadromous fish, methods of increasing the growth rate of one or more anadromous fish, methods of increasing survival of anadromous fish after their transfer to seawater, and methods for improving the feed conversion ratio (FCR) for anadromous fish. These methods are accomplished with knowledge of the roles of PVCR proteins in various organs including the olfactory lamellae, brain and gastrointestinal tract. In the fish olfactory system, it has been discovered that PVCR proteins perform controlling functions enabling fish to “smell” the ionic composition of the surrounding water as well as integrate specific attractants with water salinity. In the fish gastrointestinal tract, it has been discovered that PVCR proteins act as dual sensors for both the ionic and nutrient composition of intestinal contents. These dual functions of PVCRs permit cells lining the fish G.I. tract to integrate information on the ionic composition of water and the amino acid consumption derived from food to optimally utilize nutrients for growth. These methods can be performed by subjecting the anadromous fish to at least one PVCR modulator in the freshwater in an amount sufficient to modulate expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR; adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, wherein the feed contains an amount of NaCl sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of the PVCR modulator in serum of the anadromous fish and at least one fish attractant; transferring the anadromous fish to seawater; and adding feed for fish consumption to the seawater. The PVCR modulator alters olfactory sensing of fish to the attractant. The seawater feed contains a source of nutrition and the attractant used during imprinting in an amount sufficient to modulate the PVCR in olfactory tissue of the fish

The present invention also relates to methods of attracting or homing anadromous fish that have been imprinted. The anadromous fish were imprinted to at least one attractant in freshwater during smoltification, as described herein, whereby the olfactory sensing apparatus of fish can distinguish the attractant or are sensitized to the attractant; transferring anadromous fish to seawater; and exposing the fish to the attractant used during the imprinting process in a sufficient amount to modulate the PVCR in the olfactory sensing apparatus of the fish. In seawater, the fish can be exposed to the attractant by adhering the attractant to an object (e.g., netting or fish lure) and placing the object having the attractant adhered thereto in the seawater.

In another embodiment, the present invention pertains to methods of repelling anadromous fish that have been imprinted, as described herein, so that the fish are sensitized to at least one fish repellant. The method includes imprinting the anadromous fish to at least one repellant in freshwater during smoltification, whereby the olfactory sensing apparatus of fish can distinguish the repellant or are sensitized to the repellant; transferring anadromous fish to seawater; and exposing the fish to the same repellant used during the imprinting process in a sufficient amount to modulate the PVCR in the olfactory sensing apparatus of the fish. The repellant can be adhered to an object that is placed in the seawater.

The present invention provides numerous advantages including, for example: allowing hatcheries to increase food consumption of fish so that they grow faster; allowing for the homing of fish for improved breeding; allowing one to more easily attract fish into a net or by a lure; and allowing fish to be repelled from dangerous areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the partial nucleotide (SEQ ID NO:1) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO:2) sequences of the polyvalent cation-sensing receptor (PVCR) of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the partial nucleotide (SEQ ID NO:3) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO:4) sequences of the PVCR of arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus).

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the partial nucleotide (SEQ ID NO:5) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO:6) sequences of the PVCR of rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss).

FIGS. 4A–E are diagrams illustrating full length nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO.:7) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO.:8) sequence of the shark kidney cation receptor (“SKCaR”).

FIG. 5 is a series of photographs of immunocytochemistry showing the PVCR localization of Atlantic Salmon Olfactory Bulb Nerve and Lamellae using an anti-PVCR antibody.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustrating the effect of external and internal ionic concentrations on the olfactory lamellae in response to PVCR modulators. The system “senses” external Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ with reference to internal standards

FIG. 7 are photographs of immunocytochemistry showing the PVCR protein expression in the developing nasal lamellae and olfactory bulb after hatching of Atlantic salmon using an anti-PVCR antibody.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of immunocytochemistry showing the PVCR localization in nasal lamellae of dogfish shark using an anti-PVCR antibody.

FIG. 9 is a photograph of a Southern blot of RT-PCR analyses of tissues (Lanes: 1. Gill, 2. Nasal Lamellae, 3. Urinary Bladder, 4. Kidney, 5, Intestine, 6. Stomach, 7. Liver, 8. Brain, 9. Water Blank, 10. Positive Control) from Atlantic Salmon showing the presence of PVCR mRNA in nasal lamellae of freshwater adapted.

FIG. 10 is a histogram illustrating the amount of PVCR protein, as determined by an ELISA (ng) for various tissue samples (gill, liver, heart, muscle, stomach, olfactory epithelium, kidney, urinary bladder, brain, pituitary gland, olfactory bulb, pyloric ceacae, proximal intestine, and distal intestine).

FIG. 11 shows the raw and integrated recordings from high resistance electrodes of freshwater adapted Atlantic Salmon when exposed to 500 μM L-alanine, 1 mmol calcium, 50 μM Gadolinium, and 250 mmol of NaCl. The figures shows the existence of an olfactory recording in response to L-alanine, calcium, gadolinium, and NaCl.

FIG. 12A is a graph showing the response data for freshwater adapted Atlantic salmon nasal lamellae of calcium, magnesium, gadolinium, and sodium chloride normalized to the signal obtained with 10 mM Calcium.

FIG. 12B is a graph showing the response data for freshwater adapted Atlantic salmon nasal lamellae of calcium, magnesium, gadolinium, and sodium chloride at various concentrations (10⁻⁶ mol⁻¹, 10⁻⁵ mol⁻¹, 10⁻⁴ mol⁻¹, 10⁻³ mol⁻¹, 10⁻² mol⁻¹, 10⁻¹ mol⁻¹, 10⁰ mol⁻¹).

FIG. 12C is a graph showing the response data for freshwater adapted Atlantic salmon nasal lamellae of calcium at various concentrations (10⁻⁶ mol⁻¹, 10⁻⁵ mol⁻¹, 10⁻⁴ mol⁻¹, 10⁻³ mol⁻¹, 10⁻² mol⁻¹) and Artificial Seawater (ASW) in the presence of 500 mM sodium chloride.

FIG. 12D is a histogram showing the response data for freshwater adapted Atlantic salmon nasal lamellae of 500 mM sodium chloride, calcium free ASW, divalent free ASW, ASW, distilled water (control); and the following PVCR agonists in combination with 500 mM sodium chloride: 1 mM magnesium, 1 mM calcium, 1 mM strontium, and 50 μM gadolinium.

FIG. 13 shows raw recording from high resistance electrodes of olfactory nerve impulse in the presence of a repellant (finger rinse) and in the presence of a PVCR agonist (gadolinium) and a repellant (finger rinse). The figure shows that the olfactory nerve impulse to the repellant is reversibly altered in the presence of a PVCR agonist.

FIG. 14 shows the raw recordings from high resistance electrodes of freshwater adapted Atlantic Salmon in response to a series of repeated stimuli (L-alanine or NaCl) in 2 minute intervals. The figure shows that the olfactory nerve impulse to the attractant is reversibly altered in the presence of a PVCR agonist

FIG. 15 is a graphical representation of the ratio from FURA-2 cells expressing a PVCR in the presence or absence of 10 mM L-Isoleucine in various concentrations (0.5, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 20.0 mM) of extracellular calcium (Ca²⁺).

FIG. 16 is a graphical representation of the fractional Ca²⁺ response, as compared to the extracelluar Ca²⁺ (mM) for the PVCR in Ca²⁺ only, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, or AA Mixture (a variety of L-isomers in various concentrations).

FIG. 17 is a graphical representation of olfactory nerve recordings of freshwater Atlantic Salmon smolt olfactory epithelia in distilled water, ASW, and control amino acid (500 μM L-alanine).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the fundamental discovery that fish can be imprinted with an odorant (e.g., an attractant or repellant) during certain stages of development, and later when the fish are exposed to that same odorant, they can readily distinguish the odorant or are sensitized to the odorant. In particular, the present invention encompasses the newly discovered understanding that a Polyvalent Cation Sensing Receptor (PVCR), has a role in allowing fish to “sense” both ions and amino acids. The PVCR proteins permit fish to “sense” both water salinity (e.g., ion concentrations) and concentrations of amino acids in the water that surrounds them, in their bodily fluids and in the contents of their gastrointestinal tract. The PVCR works with odorant receptors to imprint fish to an odorant, so that modulators of the PVCR alter olfactory sensing capabilities of the fish.

The methods of the present invention pertain to all types of aquatic species including freshwater fish, marine fish, anadromous fish, crustations, molusks and echinoderms.

Marine fish are fish that live, at least for most of their adult lives, in seawater. Marine fish include, for example, Cod, Haddock, Hake, Halibut, Mackerel, Pollock, Sea Bass, Swordfish, Tuna, Winter Flounder, and Summer Flounder. Freshwater fish are fish that live, at least for the most of their adult lives, in freshwater. The terms “marine fish” and “freshwater fish” are understood by one of skill in the art.

Anadromous fish are fish that swim from seawater to freshwater to breed. Anadromous fish include, for example, salmon (e.g, Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)), char (e.g., Arctic Char (Salveninus alpinus)) and trout (e.g., Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)). Anadromous fish also include fish that are unable to swim to seawater (e.g., landlocked), but have the physiological mechanisms to adapt to seawater. The term “pre-adult anadromous fish,” as used herein, refers to anadromous fish that have not yet adapted to seawater. These fish are generally juvenile fish. Pre-adult anadromous fish include, but are not limited to fish that are fingerlings, parr or smolts. As used herein, “smolt” refers to fish undergoing physiological changes that allows the fish to adapt to seawater, or survive upon subsequent transfer to seawater. The term, “smolt,” also refers to a fish that is not at the precise developmental stage to survive uninjured upon transfer to seawater, but rather is one of a population of fish wherein, based on a statistical sampling and evaluation, the population of fish is determined to be at a physiological stage ready for transfer to seawater.

Anadromous fish such as salmon are capable of returning to a specific site in a freshwater stream where they were hatched despite years of travel and residence in large tracts of the ocean during their adulthood. To accomplish this feat, anadromous fish undergo imprinting during various phases of their lifecycle that enables them to recognize and return to a specific site. One such phase is during their larval stage of life when they are hatching in a streambed and the another phase is during smoltification in the river when they adapt for life in seawater. While it has been demonstrated that exposure of salmon to a specific odorant during smoltification imprints the corresponding adult salmon to return to the site containing that odorant, until the discovery of the present invention it was unclear exactly how these fish accomplish this task with either natural or artificial odorants. Spawning migrations by fish to specific areas of estuaries or rivers are not restricted to anadromous fish species. Marine flatfish such as flounder migrate from deep ocean water to specific estuaries near coastal rivers to spawn and then return to the ocean.

An improved ability to attract or repel fish would greatly aid hatchery producers in the breeding and production of fish for both restocking of depleted natural populations as well as commercial production in ocean netpens or by ocean ranching. Present day methods include restocking of wild fish populations via the production of a large numbers of juvenile fish in hatcheries followed by their release into the wild at the mouths of rivers or estuaries. Use of attractants for these fish might aid in their efficient harvesting by fishermen using either hooks or nets. In a similar manner, commercial production of large numbers of juvenile salmon for ocean ranching occurs in regions such as Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. However, such methods are not efficient in that large numbers of fish do not survive their transfer to the wild and thus huge numbers of fish are raised and released to provide for returns to the freshwater site of 1–20% depending on the specific species. Restocking efforts in wild fish populations are hampered by the straying of large number of juvenile fish into water intakes of power plants and dam turbines. Successful aversion of such juvenile fish after their release from the hatchery by repellants would effectively increase the efficiency of these restocking efforts, and/or prevent problems caused by the fish with respect to the operation of the power plants or turbines. Moreover, large numbers of salmon and trout are produced in freshwater hatcheries whereupon they are transferred directly to ocean netpens for growout within a confined space. Prior to the present invention, salmon smolt produced by this direct transfer method encounter multiple problems adapting to their new seawater environment. Delays in feeding after seawater transfer and remodeling of gut function for seawater life presently reduce the growth of these fish after seawater transfer.

The present invention relates to methods of growing fish. Fish hatcheries have experienced difficulty in raising anadromous fish because the window of time in which the pre-adult fish adapts to seawater (e.g., undergoes smoltification) is short-lived, and can be difficult to pinpoint. So, when the fish are transferred to seawater, they often experience stress (e.g., osmotic shock) and eat poorly. Several of the fish that are transferred die as a result. The present invention provides methods and compositions that allow fish to better adapt to seawater and to increase food consumption by imprinting the fish with an attractant in freshwater having a PVCR modulator, and after the transfer to seawater, providing fish with a feed that has the same attractant.

The PVCR modulator alters the olfactory sensing of the fish to the odorant. In some cases, the presence of a (e.g., at least one) PVCR modulator in freshwater reversibly reduces or ablates the fish's ability to sense certain odorants. In other cases it can be heightened or increased. By exposing the fish (e.g., anadromous fish) in freshwater having a PVCR modulator to an odorant, the fish have a decreased or dulled response to an odorant. The PVCR allows fish to “sense” various types of modulators, which are further defined herein. The term “sense” or “sensing” refers to the PVCR's ability to alter its expression and/or sensitivity in response to a PVCR modulator. In addition to modulating the PVCR, the sensing of an odorant can involve altering one or more olfactory receptors. The PVCR can work, for example, with one or more olfactory receptors to generate of the nerve impulse during sensing of an odorant. Generation of this nerve impulse occurs upon binding of the odorant to the olfactory lamellae in the fish.

The fish olfactory system consists of the olfactory epithelium, olfactory nerve and olfactory bulb of the brain. Using methods of the present invention, anti-PVCR antiserum and RT-PCR show that each component of the fish olfactory system contains at least one PVCR protein. The present invention relates to methods that demonstrate that at least one PVCR functions to allow fish to “smell” the salinity of surrounding water via sensing of ionic concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ by PVCRs. The present invention further relates to methods whereby exposure of fish olfactory epithelium to PVCR modulators such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Gd³⁺ and neomycin produce a concentration-dependent olfactory nerve impulse in concentration ranges that correspond to those occurring in salinity ranges encountered by wild salmon. These data verify the presence of functional PVCR proteins in olfactory epithelial cells and their key role in salinity sensing by fish.

These same methods were used to demonstrate that simultaneous exposure of the olfactory epithelium to an odorant (such as amino acid attractant or repellant) and a PVCR agonist (Ca2+ or Gd3+) alters the magnitude and/or characteristics of the resulting olfactory nerve impulse. This alteration is produced by interactions between the signals produced by the odorant receptor (sensing specific odorant molecules) and the PVCR (sensing both salinity and amino acids if present). The PVCR modulates or alters odorant receptors and their ability to generate a nerve impulse.

The presence of both PVCR proteins (sensing salinity and selected amino acids) together with odorant receptors (sensing specific odorant molecules) provides an explanation for how salmon can sense both the odor of specific rivers or streams as well as their salinity profile as they return home to spawn.

Freshwater and marine fish sense odorants in aquatic environments that vary widely in their ionic composition. PVCRs in olfactory epithelial cells play a significant role in allowing olfactory cells to provide for a meaningful response to odorants over a wide range of ionic environments. Moreover, PVCRs in specific olfactory cells permit freshwater and marine fish to “smell” or sense water salinity. PVCRs can sense various modulators, as described herein, and in particular amino acids and divalent cations.

The presence of PVCR modulators in the surrounding freshwater as well as serum of the fish alter the expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR in a manner similar to that which normally occurs only after the fish has been transferred to seawater. Thus, instead of imprinting on odorants present in food or water after their transfer to seawater, anadromous fish imprint on odorants in a manner identical to that occurring in seawater but surprisingly the fish remain in freshwater. When the fish are transferred to seawater, the olfactory sensing apparatus of the fish has already fully adapted and imprinted to a seawater environment and the fish can readily distinguish and recall the odorant in seawater.

An odorant is a compound that binds to olfactory receptors and causes fish to sense odorants. Generation of an olfactory nerve impulse occurs upon binding of the odorant to the olfactory lamellae. A fish odorant is either a fish attractant or fish repellant. A fish attractant is a compound to which fish are attracted. The sensitivity of the attractant is modulated, at least in part, by the sensitivity and/or expression of the PVCR in the olfactory apparatus of the fish in response to a PVCR modulator. Examples of attractants include amino acids (e.g., L-Tryptophan L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, L-Alanine, L-Serine, L-Arginine, L-Histidine, L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Aspartic acid, L-Glutamic acid, L-Glycine, L-Lysine, L-Methionine, L-Asparagine, L-Proline, L-Glutamine, L-Threonine, L-Valine, and L-Cysteine), nucleotides (e.g., inosine monophosphate), organic compounds (e.g., glycine-betaine and trimethylamine oxide), or a combination thereof. Similarly, a fish repellant is a compound that fish are repelled by, and the sensitivity of the fish to the repellant is altered through expression and/or sensitivity of a PVCR in the olfactory apparatus of the fish in the presence of a PVCR modulator. An example of a repellant is a “finger rinse” which is a mixture of mammalian oils and fatty acids produce by the epidermal cells of the skin, and is left behind after human fingers are rinsed with an aqueous solution. Methods for performing a finger rinse is known in the art and is described in more detailed in the Exemplification Section.

During the time the fish are exposed to a PVCR modulator and an odorant in freshwater, they become “imprinted” with the odorant. The process of imprinting the fish with an odorant refers to creating a lasting effect or impression on the fish so that the fish can “react” to the odorant, e.g., they are sensitized to the odorant or can distinguish the odorant. Being sensitized to the odorant refers to the fish's ability to more easily recognize or recall the odorant. Distinguishing an odorant refers to the fish's ability to differentiate among one or more odorants, or have a preference for one odorant over another. In one embodiment, the invention pertains to methods of imprinting the fish with an attractant and modulating the PVCR, as further described herein, and then providing a unique feed composition that has the same attractant.

In particular, the methods of growing an fish include imprinting the fish to the attractant by adding at least one PVCR modulator (e.g., calcium and magnesium) to the freshwater, and adding a specially made or modified feed to the freshwater for consumption by the fish. The feed contains a sufficient amount of sodium chloride (NaCl) (e.g., between about 1% and about 10% by weight, or about 10,000 mg/kg to about 100,000 mg/kg) to significantly increase levels of the PVCR modulator in the serum and an attractant (e.g., between trace amounts and about 100 mg/kg). This amount of NaCl in the feed causes or induces the anadromous fish to drink more freshwater. Since the freshwater contains a PVCR modulator and the fish ingest increased amounts of it, the serum level of the PVCR modulator significantly increases in the fish, and causes modulated (e.g., increased and/or decreased) PVCR expression and/or altered PVCR sensitivity. The PVCR modulator alters the olfactory sensing of the fish to the attractant, as described herein.

In another embodiment, the fish (e.g., anadromous fish) are imprinted, not by adding the odorant to the feed, but by adding an odorant to the freshwater having a PCVR modulator (the PVCR modulator environment) e.g., while the fish are undergoing smoltification or are in certain larval stages. The fish are subjected to the same steps, as described herein. Namely, the fish are in the PVCR modulator environment and fed a diet having NaCl and, optionally, a PVCR modulator (such as tryptophan), except the odorant is added the freshwater water rather than the feed. The odorant is added to the freshwater in an amount between about 1 nanomolar and about 500 millimolar. This process imprints the fish with the odorant by modulating the expression and/or sensitivity of the PVCR in the olfactory apparatus, such that the olfactory sensing apparatus of the fish can distinguish the odorant or are sensitized to the odorant.

The present invention, in yet another embodiment, includes introduction of the PVCR modulator and odorant in a first body of water. After the fish are imprinted, they are transferred to a second body of water. Depending on the type of fish being subjected to the steps of the present invention, the fish can come from freshwater or seawater. For example, pre-adult anadromous fish are maintained in freshwater prior to carrying out the steps of the present invention. During smoltification, as described herein, the fish are subjected to the PVCR modulator and the odorant, thereby imprinting the fish. The anadromous fish are then transferred to seawater, where they can more easily distinguish the odorant. In the case of freshwater fish, for example, the fish can be maintained in freshwater, and the PVCR modulator and odorant can be introduced to the freshwater. Once the imprinting phase occurs, then the fish can be transferred back to freshwater without PVCR modulators added to it. In yet another example, marine fish, can be transferred from seawater directly to freshwater having the PVCR modulator and odorant added to it. Alternatively, since marine fish can also be grown in freshwater having PVCR modulators add to it, the present invention can be practiced by introducing an odorant to this PVCR environment, as described herein. Methods for growing marine fish in freshwater is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,882. After the marine fish are imprinted, they can then be transferred to seawater, or if desirable, back to freshwater having the PVCR modulator added to it (e.g., water without the odorant).

Once fish are imprinted, they can be transferred from the freshwater environment having the PVCR modulator and odorant, to a second body of water (e.g., seawater, freshwater or freshwater having a PVCR modulator). The present invention includes providing a source of the odorant after fish have been transferred. The source can be virtually any thing or composition that allows the fish to be exposed to the odorant. This odorant is the same odorant to which the fish have been imprinted. Examples, which are further described herein, include objects, compositions, suspensions, sprays, etc. When the fish are exposed to the odorant after being transferred, the fish can react to the odorant, as described herein.

In the case of anadromous fish, once fish are imprinted with the odorant and have undergone the smoltification process, the fish are ready to be transferred to seawater. When the fish are transferred to seawater, the fish are provided with feed that contains not only a source of nutrition, but also the same attractant or combination of attractants that were imprinted on the fish while the fish were in freshwater and exposed to the process described herein. The fish consume more feed and do so earlier after transfer to seawater, than do fish who are not exposed to the methods of the present invention. Accordingly, fish acclimate to seawater better and grow faster. In one embodiment, fish prefer feed having the attractant that was imprinted on them, as compared to feed having an attractant that was not imprinted on them.

Smoltification is the stage at which a fish undergoes the acclimation or adaptation from freshwater to seawater. Smoltification also refers to a process occurring in pre-adult anadromous fish that is physiological pre-adaption to seawater while still in freshwater. The smolification process varies from species to species. Different species of anadromous fish can undergo smoltification at different sizes, weights, and times in the life of the fish. The present invention induces the vast majority or all of the pre-adult anadromous fish to undergo this process and prepares them for transfer to seawater. Fish can be imprinted with an odorant, as described herein, during this stage.

In addition to imprinting during smoltification, the imprinting process can also occur during other stages of development of fish. Odorants can also be imprinted on fish larvae. An initial larval stage, referred to as a “yolk-sac” larval stage, is one during which the fish's primary source of food comes from the yolk-sac. During this stage, the larvae can be exposed to a PVCR modulator and an odorant so that the odorant can be imprinted. The PVCR modulator and odorant are added to the freshwater, as further described herein, for a sufficient period of time to cause the imprinting to occur. Another developmental stage during which imprinting can occur is in the “first feeding” larval stage. In this stage, the fish gradually cease using the yolk-sac as a source of nutrition and begin ingesting feed. The first feeding larvae can be exposed to a PVCR modulator and odorant for imprinting. As described herein, the odorant can be added to the freshwater or to the feed. The imprinting process can occur at one, or a combination of these stages, namely, the yolk-sac larval stage, first feeding larval stage, and smoltification stage using the same odorant. Performing the imprinting process during more than one of these stages creates a stronger response to certain odorants when the fish is exposed to it after transfer to seawater.

The present invention can also be applied to other types of fish, namely, flounder that migrate to coastal estuaries possessing diluted seawater concentrations where they spawn. The resulting larval and juvenile stages of flounders develop in these estuaries before returning to the sea. Imprinting of flatfish via restocking programs currently underway would provide for an environment where the methods of the present invention can occur, as further described herein.

The anadromous fish are maintained in freshwater prior to adding the PVCR modulator. The term, “freshwater,” means water that comes from, for example, a stream, river, ponds, public water supply, or from other non-marine sources having, for example, the following ionic composition: less than about 2 mM of magnesium, calcium and NaCl. The term “freshwater” also refers to freshwater to which at least one PVCR modulator has been added, as described herein.

The PVCR modulator is added to the freshwater in sufficient amounts to modulate expression or alter the sensitivity of the PVCR. A PVCR has been isolated from various tissue of several types of anadromous fish using molecular biology techniques, as described in the Exemplification Section. DNA was isolated from samples from various species of anadromous fish including Atlantic Salmon, Char, Chum Salmon, Coho Salmon, King or Chinook Salmon, Pink Salmon, Sockeye Salmon and Trout.

The PVCR, which is located in various tissues (e.g., gill, skin, olfactory lamellae, olfactory epithelium, intestine, kidney, urinary bladder, G.I. tract, brain or muscle) of the anadromous fish, senses alterations in PVCR modulators including various ions (e.g., divalent cations), for example, in the surrounding water, in their serum or in the luminal contents of tubules inside the body, such as kidney, urinary bladder, or intestine. The PVCR located in the olfactory apparatus of fish plays an important role in sensing PVCR modulators and/or odorants, as described herein. Its ability to sense these modulators increases and/or decreases expression of the PVCR, thereby allowing the fish to better adapt to seawater. Increased and/or decreased expression of the PVCR can occur, for example, in one or more tissues, or in all tissues. When modulation of the PVCR occurs in the olfactory apparatus of the fish, the fish are able to sense the PVCR modulator or ordorant, and in conjunction with receptors, send a nerve impulse to brain. The presence of a PVCR modulator reversibly reduces the expression, sensitivity and/or responsiveness of the PVCR to an odorant, thereby reducing, minimizing, or abating the olfactory nerve impulse.

Molecular cloning of PVCR proteins demonstrates these ion receptor belong to a large superfamily of GTP-binding protein coupled receptors that include odorant and pheromone receptors. Localization of PVCR (CaR) expression in the nervous system of mammals demonstrates abundant expression of CaR mRNA in olfactory lobes.

Molecular cloning of mammalian and fish odorant receptors have demonstrated that PVCRs (in mammals the calcium receptor or CaR) are structurally related to both odorant and pheromone receptors (that bind a wide variety of odorant molecules) as well as metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) that bind glutamate. Both odorant and PVCRs are both G-protein coupled receptors that interact with G-proteins to activate signal transduction molecules including adenylate cyclase and/or phospholipase A₂ to increase intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations within cells.

A “PVCR modulator” is defined herein to mean a compound which modulates (e.g., increases and/or decreases) expression of the PVCR, or alters the sensitivity or responsiveness of the PVCR. Such compounds include, but are not limited to, PVCR agonists (e.g., inorganic polycations, organic polycations and amino acids), Type II calcimimetics, and compounds that indirectly alter PVCR expression (e.g., 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D in concentrations of about 3,000–10,000 International Units/kg feed), cytokines such as Interleukin Beta, and Macrophage Chemotatic Peptide-1 (MCP-1)). Examples of Type II calcimimetics, which increase and/or decrease expression, and/or sensitivity of the PVCR, are, for example, NPS-R-467 and NPS-R-568 from NPS Pharmaceutical Inc., (Salt Lake, Utah, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,962,314; 5,763,569; 5,858,684; 5,981,599; 6,001,884) which can be administered in concentrations of between about 0.1 μM and about 100 μM feed or water. See Nemeth, E. F. et al., PNAS 95: 4040–4045 (1998). Examples of inorganic polycations are divalent cations including calcium at a concentration between about 2.0 and about 10.0 mM and magnesium at a concentration between about 0.5 and about 10.0 mM; and trivalent cations including, but not limited to, gadolinium (Gd3+) at a concentration between about 1 and about 500 μM. Organic polycations include, but are not limited to, aminoglycosides such as neomycin or gentamicin in concentrations of between about 1 and about 8 gm/kg feed as well as organic polycations including polyamines (e.g., polyarginine, polylysine, polyhistidine, polyornithine, spermine, cadaverine, putrescine, copolymers of poly arginine/histidine, poly lysine/arginine in concentrations of between about 10 μM and 10 mM feed). See Brown, E. M. et al., Endocrinology 128: 3047–3054 (1991); Quinn, S. J. et al., Am. J. Physiol. 273: C1315–1323 (1997). Additionally, PVCR agonists include amino acids such as L-Tryptophan L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, L-Alanine, L-Serine, L-Arginine, L-Histidine, L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Aspartic acid, L-Glutamic acid, L-Glycine, L-Lysine, L-Methionine, L-Asparagine, L-Proline, L-Glutamine, L-Threonine, L-Valine, and L-Cysteine at concentrations of between about 1 and about 10 gm/kg feed. See Conigrave, A. D., et al., PNAS 97: 4814–4819 (2000). Amino acids, in one embodiment, are also defined as those amino acids that can be sensed by at least one PVCR in the presence of low levels of extracellular calcium (e.g., between about 1 mM and about 10 mM). In the presence of extracellular calcium, the PVCR in organs or tissues such as the intestine, pyloric caeca, or kidney can better sense amino acids. See Exemplification Section. The molar concentrations refer to free or ionized concentrations of the PVCR modulator in the freshwater, and do not include amounts of bound PVCR modulator (e.g., PVCR modulator bound to negatively charged particles including glass, proteins, or plastic surfaces). Any combination of these modulators can be added to the water or to the feed (in addition to the NaCl, as described herein), so long as the combination modulates expression and/or sensitivity of the PVCR.

The PVCR modulator can be administered to the fish in a number of ways. The invention encompasses administration of the PVCR in any way that is sufficient to modulate the expression and/or alter the sensitivity of the PVCR. In one embodiment, the PVCR modulator is simply added to the freshwater in various concentrations, as described herein. A freshwater environment having at least one PVCR modulator is referred to herein as a “PVCR modulator environment.” PVCR modulators (e.g., calcium and magnesium) that are added to the water modulate expression and/or alter the sensitivity of the PVCR on the skin and gills of the fish, and can be ingested by the fish, in particular, when fish are fed feed having between about 1% and about 10% NaCl (e.g., in concentrations between about 10,000 mg/kg and about 100,000 mg/kg feed). In addition to adding NaCl to the feed, the PVCR modulator (e.g., an amino acid such as tryptophan) can also be added to the feed. Amounts and types of PVCR modulators added to the feed are also described herein. Other embodiments include subjecting the fish to the PVCR modulator by “dipping” the fish in the modulator, e.g., organic polycations. The organic polycations can be formulated in such a way as to allow the polycations to adhere to the skin and gills of the fish, in sufficient amounts to modulate expression of the PVCR.

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention is practiced by adding a combination of two PVCR agonists to the freshwater. In particular, calcium and magnesium are added to the freshwater to bring the concentrations of each to between about 2.0 mM and about 10.0 mM of calcium, and between about 0.5 mM and about 10.0 mM of magnesium. In addition to adding calcium and magnesium to the water, these ranges of ion concentrations can be achieved by providing a brackish water (e.g., diluted seawater) environment for the fish.

Calcium and magnesium can come from a variety of sources, that when added to the water, the calcium and/or magnesium levels modulate expression of the PVCR, and/or are within the stated ranges. Sources of calcium and magnesium can be a mixture of a variety of compounds, or each can come from a substantially uniform or pure compound. Sources of calcium include, for example, Ca(CO₃)₂, CaCl₂, CaSO₄, and Ca(OH)₂ and sources of magnesium include, for example, MgCl₂, MgSO₄, MgBr₂, and MgCO₃.

In one embodiment, the invention includes intermittent (e.g., interrupted) as well as continuous (e.g., non-interrupted) exposure to freshwater having at least one PVCR modulator, while on the NaCl diet. Intermittent exposure to the PVCR can occur so long as the PVCR expression and/or altered sensitivity remains modulated (e.g., increased and/or decreased in various tissues).

The process of the present invention prepares fish for transfer from freshwater to seawater. The pre-adult anadromous fish are maintained in a freshwater environment having a PVCR modulator long enough to sufficient imprint the odorant on the fish. The fish are exposed to the odorant while in the PVCR modulator environment for a period of time sufficient to imprint the odorant and modulate the PVCR so that generation of nerve impulses in the olfactory apparatus occur. The length of time depends on the physiological and physical maturity of the fish. Some fish will more readily adapt to the environment, and modulate their expression and/or alter the sensitivity of their PVCR, while others will need more time to do so. Factors that can influence the length of time necessary to modulate the expression and/or alter sensitivity of the PVCR include, but are not limited to, size of the fish, level of PVCR expression or sensitivity, if any, prior to addition of the PVCR modulator to the freshwater, the fish's ability to excrete the PVCR modulator and ions, the fish's surface to volume ratio, etc. Therefore, the length of time the fish is maintained can range from about 7 days to several months (e.g., 7, 14, 21, 30, 45, 90 and 120 days), and preferably between about 2 weeks and about 6 weeks.

The invention further includes adding feed to the freshwater. The frequency and amounts of feed that fish are fed, are taught in the art. Generally, the fish are fed 1–3 times a day, totaling about 0.25–5.0% body weight/day. The feed has enough NaCl to contribute to a significant increased level of the PVCR modulator in the serum of the pre-adult anadromous fish. More specifically, NaCl has at least two effects. The first occurs when sufficient amounts of NaCl is present in the feed. The presence of NaCl in the feed causes the pre-adult anadromous fish to drink more water from the surrounding environment. Second, NaCl is a direct negative PVCR modulator, and works to decreases PVCR sensitivity. Despite NaCl's effect in decreasing sensitivity, it surprisingly increases PVCR expression in certain tissues when fish are fed a NaCl diet and the surrounding freshwater environment has at least one PVCR modulator it in. The increase in the ingestion of freshwater having PVCR modulators causes an overall increase of the serum levels of PVCR modulators.

The present invention also relates to a fish feed. In one embodiment, the feed has an agent that is sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of the PVCR modulator in serum of the anadromous fish. Such an agent can be used in the methods of the present invention described herein. One example of an agent that significantly increases the level of the PVCR modulator in the serum of fish is NaCl. Accordingly, in another embodiment, the feed contains between about 1%–10% of NaCl by weight, or between about 10,000 mg of NaCl/kg of feed and about 100,000 mg of NaCl/kg of feed (e.g., 12,000 mg/kg). The feed also includes an attractant, as described herein. These feeds can be referred to herein as “NaCl/attractant diets.” The odorant is present in the feed in an amount sufficient to alter the olfactory sensing of fish (e.g., trace amounts to about 100 mg/kg). In addition to the NaCl and odorant, a PVCR modulator, and in particular a PVCR agonist such as an amino acid, can optionally be added. In one embodiment, the feed has between about 1% and about 10% NaCl by weight, an odorant such as L-alanine, and an amino acid such as tryptophan in an amount between about 1 and about 10 gm/kg. In addition to the unique components of the present invention that comprise the feed, as described above, the feed can additionally comprise ingredients that are traditionally included in feed, e.g., for nutrition and/or palatability. For example, the feed can include fish components, such as flounder or squid meat, or fish oils. Such feeds can also be designed for specific life stages of fish including larval, juvenile and adult fish.

The feed can be made in a number of ways, so long as the proper concentration of NaCl is present. The feed can be made, for example, by reformulating the feed, or by allowing the feed to absorb a solution having the NaCl and optionally, adding an odorant and/or PVCR modulator. A top dressing can be added for palatability.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes feeding anadromous fish feed having between 1% and 10% NaCl by weight and an odorant when the fish are maintained in a freshwater environment having between about 2.0 and about 10.0 mM of calcium, and between about 0.5 mM and about 10.0 mM of magnesium.

In another embodiment, the fish, while in the freshwater having the PVCR modulator, are also exposed to a photoperiod. A photoperiod refers to exposing the fish to light (e.g., sunlight, incandescent light or fluorescent light). Preferably, the photoperiod is substantially continuous, or occurs long enough to increase growth, induce smotification and/or reduce mortality. The fish can be exposed to a continuous photoperiod while they are in freshwater and undergoing the steps of the present invention (e.g., in the PVCR modulator environment and being fed the NaCl/attractant diet), as well as after being exposed to this environment and then transferred to seawater. The photoperiod can occur for at least about 12 hours within a 24 hour interval, or for longer periods such as about 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 or preferably, about 24 hours. The number of days the fish is exposed to a photoperiod can range from about 1 day to several months (e.g., 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 30, 45, 90 and 120 days). Preferably, the photoperiod while the fish are being maintained in the PVCR modulator environment and being fed the NaCl/attractant diet, is preferably between about 4 days and about 50 days. After being transferred to seawater, the photoperiod exposure is preferably between about 7 days and about 45 days. Methods for exposing fish to a photoperiod are known in the art, and are described for example, in Willoughby, S., Manual of Salmonid Farming, Blackwell Scientific, Oxford, UK, at 106, and 152–154 (1999).

The fish can also be exposed to a photoperiod after transfer to seawater. The benefits of exposure to a photoperiod include a dramatic decrease in the mortality of fish after transfer to seawater. Thus, in one embodiment, maintaining fish in a continuous photoperiod increases their survival during their adaptation to seawater.

The term, “seawater,” means water that comes from the sea, or water which has been formulated to simulate the chemical and mineral composition of water from the sea. The major elemental composition of the prepared seawater preferably falls substantially within the range of the major elemental composition of the natural seawater (e.g., having the following ionic composition: greater than 30 mM of magnesium, greater than about 6 mM of calcium, and greater than about 300 mM NaCl). Methods of preparing artificial seawater are known in the art and are described in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,651.

When performing the methods of the present invention on pre-adult anadromous fish, the fish exhibit significantly increased growth (e.g., SGR), gut motility and/or food consumption, as compared to pre-adult anadromous fish that are not subjected to the present invention. The present invention allows for enhancements in growth, gut motility and/or food consumption prior to, during, and after seawater transfer. Upon transfer to seawater, fish that are not subjected to the steps of the present invention generally experience osmotic stress, reduced or no food consumption, and even death. Osmotic stress results from differences in the osmotic pressure between the surrounding environment and body compartments of the fish. This disturbs the homeostatic equilibrium of the fish and results in decreased growth, reproductive failure and reduced resistance to disease. As a result of osmotic stress, the fish also grow more slowly and take longer to reach market size. Additionally, the present invention allows increases in growth of fish of a variety of sizes. Growth increases are expected to be seen in smaller fish (e.g., about 15 gm), medium fish (e.g., 40 gm) as well as larger fish (e.g., 90–120 gm). Accordingly, the present invention pertains to methods of increasing growth of pre-adult anadromous fish having weights that range from about 15 gm to about 120 gm. Expression and/or sensitivity of the PVCR can be modulated, for example, in the olfactory apparatus of the fish, and can be modulated in other types of tissues such as in chloride cells of gill tissue, epithelial cells in the gasterointestinal tract (e.g., stomach, pyloric caeca, proximal or distal intestine), tubules of the kidney, skin or urinary bladder.

Also, elimination of non-feeding or poorly feeding osmotically stressed fish in a group improves the overall feed conversion ratio of the entire group. Optimal feeding and growth after seawater transfer by all members of the group of treated fish will permit better feed utilization and improve the overall yield of production when fish reach market size.

The present invention includes methods to increase effective utilization of food and increasing the growth of anadromous fish by optimization of the function or increasing the growth of the gastrointestinal tract of fish by exposure of fish to a PVCR agonist including a single or mixture of L-amino acids that are included in either the food or freshwater during the smoltification process. These methods can be accomplished by addition of at least one PVCR modulator to the food that is added to freshwater, ingested by the fish and thereby exposes PVCRs present in cells that line the lumen of various gastrointestinal tract segments of larval or juvenile fish to alterations by the modulator. Modulation of gastrointestinal tract PVCRs in fish optimizes their utilization of ingested food via PVCR mediated sensing of specific amino acids and the signaling of the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract and transport both ions and nutrients across this epithelium.

Cells lining the fish G.I. tract contain abundant PVCR protein that is exposed to both the luminal contents of the stomach, pyloric cecae and intestine as well as the microenvironment located immediately next to the basolateral membranes of these cells. The present invention relates to the finding that PVCR proteins possess the ability to sense both ionic and amino acid concentrations and signal cells containing PVCRs to respond appropriately. By sensing the local concentration of amino acids, PVCR-containing cells can constantly discern the presence of nutrients (proteins) that are being digested by intestinal proteases into amino acids that are absorbed by these epithelial cells. Thus, the PVCR protein in the intestinal epithelial cell is performing a function similar to that described for olfactory epithelial cells above but the signal generated by PVCRs is not transmitted by nerve signals. Instead, activation of PVCRs in the GI tract produce activation of transport processes, alter GI motility as well as produce proliferation and growth of intestinal epithelial cells. These 2 functions of PVCR proteins provide for the sensing of GI tract necessary for efficient growth and development of fish. Methods of the present invention permit remodeling and development of the GI tract for optimal function in seawater while the fish remains in freshwater.

Accordingly, the present invention includes methods for improving the FCR for anadromous fish that are being transferred to seawater that have been imprinted with an odorant. The feed conversion ratio or FCR is obtained by dividing the body weight gained by a group of fish into the amount of food fed to these group of fish. The more efficient the conversion of food into body weight growth by fish, the smaller the FCR (small amount of food/large weight gain of fish). A very small FCR number (less than 1) encompasses a highly efficient conversion of food into body weight growth and is what the industry is striving for. By contrast, a large FCR means an inefficient conversion of food into body weight growth and is generally undesirable. A large or poor FCR is undesirable because feed usually is expensive and more can be used to grow fish to a given weight. The FCR values for fish subjected to the methods of the present invention are expected to be generally smaller and more desirable, than most industry published values because the present invention eliminates the presence of osmotically damaged fish that tend to increase the overall FCR since they eat food but do not grow. As a consequence, by subjecting the fish to the methods of the present invention, the FCR, in one embodiment, decreases to thereby allow for optimal feeding and growth of most all of the fish. The FCR of fish subjected to the present invention is sufficient to maintain growth and feeding of the majority of fish, or preferably increase the growth and feed consumption of the majority of fish. When fish are subjected to the methods of the present invention, they exhibit ranges of FCRs, for example, would include values between about 0.7 and about 7.0. In particular, food consumption or food intake is improved because the fish “smell” or “sense” the food with the PVCR and odorant receptors in cells of the olfactory lamellae or olfactory bulb.

Similarly, the present invention allows for decreasing or reducing the time between generations of pre-adult anadromous fish. These fish begin breeding earlier because the present invention increases their growth, as described herein. Since 2–3 years are required to obtain sexually mature fish, attempts to engage in selective breeding of traits requires this 2–3 year interval before a given trait can be selected for and the fish exhibit that trait breed. Improvements in growth and time to reach maturity produced by the invention reduce the time interval required to reach sexual maturity in fish by as much as about 6 months to about 12 months. Reducing the interval for breeding allows for the production of more fish, and the improved selection of fish that possess traits other than those that are better able to adapt to seawater (e.g., select for fish that have improved taste, increased filet thickness, increased a3 omega fatty acid content, or fish that are more readily able to modulate PVCR expression).

Prior to the present invention, anadromous fish that are transferred from freshwater to seawater are generally transferred at a particular size, referred to as “critical size.” The critical size varies from species to species, but generally refers to a minimum size at which a fish can be transferred to seawater. The critical size for salmon, trout and char is between about 50 and about 100 gms, between about 70 and about 120 gms, and greater than 100 gms, respectively. Critical sizes for Coho, King, and Sockeye Salmon are between about 10 and about 15 gms, between about 20 and 40 gms and between about 1 and about 2 gms, respectively. Chum and Pink Salmon each have a critical size about less than 3 gms.

Prior to the invention, a population of pre-adult anadromous fish having attained a mean critical size were transferred to seawater. Some of the fish are physiologically ready for the transfer, while others are not. This is one of the reasons for the increased mortality rate upon transfer to seawater. The methods of the present invention physiologically prepares all or mostly all of the fish for transfer to seawater by modulating PVCR expression and/or sensitivity in the olfactory apparatus and in other tissues, and/or by inducing smoltification. In one embodiment, essentially all fish weighing more than about 15 grams can be transferred with no mortalities. Hence, the methods of the present invention include methods of preparing pre-adult anadromous fish for transfer to seawater, as well as inducing smotification in pre-adult anadromous fish.

Since the methods of the present invention modulate the expression and/or sensitivity of the PVCR in anadromous fish and are imprinted with an odorant, they survive better when transferred to seawater because the seawater feed has the same odorant with which the fish were imprinted and this allows them to feed better. The reduced osmotic stress results in reduced mortality. This occurs because the fish treated with the method experience no osmotic shock when transferred to seawater which has a very different ionic composition than freshwater. Hence, the present invention embodies methods of reducing the mortality rate after pre-adult anadromous fish are transferred to seawater.

Not only is the present invention useful in reducing mortality rates after transfer to seawater, the present invention is also used to increase survival rates in freshwater prior to transfer. Prior to the discovery of the present invention, a “smolt window” existed in which the hatcheries transferred the pre-adult anadromous fish to seawater, or else the fish died if they continued to remain in freshwater after undergoing smoltification. The PVCR modulator environment and the NaCl/attractant diet of the present invention allow the fish to continue to thrive indefinitely. The fish continue to consume feed and grow. Accordingly, the methods of the present invention significantly increase the time period or window in which the fish can be transferred to seawater, or eliminate it altogether. Additionally, after these fish are transferred to seawater they consume more feed, and grow better, as compared to fish that do not undergo the steps of the present invention.

The present invention also includes methods for transferring to seawater pre-adult anadromous fish having smaller weights, as compared to the industry recognized critical size for the particular species of fish. The methods of the present invention, as described herein, modulate PVCR expression in fish that are smaller than those normally transferred to seawater, or those undergoing or about to undergo smoltification. These methods include transferring a parr, the stage of a juvenile fish prior to becoming a smolt, to seawater. Parr is a life stage of pre-adult anadromous fish that occurs after maturation of alevins or yolk sac fry. Parr or fingerlings display characteristic ovid stripes or parr marks along their flanks, and normally undergo growth and development in freshwater prior to smoltification. The term “parr” is a term that is known in the art. As yolk sac fry continue to feed, they grow into larger parr. Parr can possess a wide range of body weights depending on conditions under which they are grown. The weights of parr vary from species to species. Body weights for parr vary significantly with a range from about 0.5 gms to about 70 gms. Carrying out the present invention in one experiment, as described herein, results in a transfer of Atlantic Salmon parr weighing as little as between about 13% and about 18.5% of the critical size weight (between about 70 and about 100 gms), or about 13 gms. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses method for preparing anadromous fish for transfer to seawater wherein the fish weigh between about 15 grams and about 120 grams at the time of seawater transfer.

The present invention additionally provides methods for transferring pre-adult anadromous fish into seawater having warmer temperatures (e.g., 14° C. and 19° C.), as compared to water temperatures (6°–14° C.) into which these fish have been transferred in the past. Since the fish experience reduced or little osmotic stress when transferred to seawater using the methods of the present invention, the fish are able to withstand transfer into higher water temperatures without exhibiting an increase in mortality rates.

The methods of the present invention also decrease the incidence of disease among the smolts and the growing salmon. Because smolts treated with the methods of the present invention experience less stress upon transfer to seawater, their immune functions are stronger, and they are less susceptible to parasitic, viral, bacterial and fungal diseases. Fish not treated with the methods described herein are more susceptible to such diseases, and can serve as reservoirs of disease, capable of infecting healthy fish.

Methods of Assessment of the PVCR and Odorant

The present invention includes methods of detecting the level of the PVCR to determine whether fish are ready for transfer from freshwater to seawater after they have been imprinted with an odorant. Methods that measure PVCR levels include several suitable assays. Suitable assays encompass immunological methods, such as FACS analysis, radioimmunoassay, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and chemiluminescence assays. Any method known now or developed later can be used for measuring PVCR expression.

Antibodies reactive with the PVCR or portions thereof can be used. In a preferred embodiment, the antibodies specifically bind with the PVCR or a portion thereof. The antibodies can be polyclonal or monoclonal, and the term antibody is intended to encompass polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and functional fragments thereof. The terms polyclonal and monoclonal refer to the degree of homogeneity of an antibody preparation, and are not intended to be limited to particular methods of production.

In several of the preferred embodiments, immunological techniques detect PVCR levels by means of an anti-PVCR antibody (i.e., one or more antibodies). The term “anti-PVCR” antibody includes monoclonal and/or polyclonal antibodies, and mixtures thereof.

Anti-PVCR antibodies can be raised against appropriate immunogens, such as isolated and/or recombinant PVCR or portion thereof (including synthetic molecules, such as synthetic peptides). In one embodiment, antibodies are raised against an isolated and/or recombinant PVCR or portion thereof (e.g., a peptide) or against a host cell which expresses recombinant PVCR. In addition, cells expressing recombinant PVCR, such as transfected cells, can be used as immunogens or in a screen for antibody which binds receptor.

Any suitable technique can prepare the immunizing antigen and produce polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. The art contains a variety of these methods (see e.g., Kohler et al., Nature, 256: 495–497 (1975) and Eur. J. Immunol. 6: 511–519 (1976); Milstein et al., Nature 266: 550–552 (1977); Koprowski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,124; Harlow, E. and D. Lane, 1988, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.); Current Protocols In Molecular Biology, Vol. 2 (Supplement 27, Summer '94), Ausubel, F. M. et al., Eds., (John Wiley & Sons: New York, N.Y.), Chapter 11, (1991)). Generally, fusing a suitable immortal or myeloma cell line, such as SP2/0, with antibody producing cells can produce a hybridoma. Animals immunized with the antigen of interest provide the antibody producing cell, preferably cells from the spleen or lymph nodes. Selective culture conditions isolate antibody producing hybridoma cells while limiting dilution techniques produce them. Researchers can use suitable assays such as ELISA to select antibody producing cells with the desired specificity.

Other suitable methods can produce or isolate antibodies of the requisite specificity. Examples of other methods include selecting recombinant antibody from a library or relying upon immunization of transgenic animals such as mice.

According to the method, an assay can determine the level of PVCR in a biological sample. In determining the amounts of PVCR, an assay includes combining the sample to be tested with an antibody having specificity for the PVCR, under conditions suitable for formation of a complex between antibody and the PVCR, and detecting or measuring (directly or indirectly) the formation of a complex. The sample can be obtained directly or indirectly, and can be prepared by a method suitable for the particular sample and assay format selected.

In particular, tissue samples, e.g., from nasal lamallae, olfactory apparatus, or gill, can be taken from fish after they are anaesthetized with MS-222. The tissue samples are fixed by immersion in 2% paraformaldehyde in appropriate Ringers solution corresponding to the osmolality of the fish, washed in Ringers, then frozen in an embedding compound, e.g., O.C.T.™ (Miles, Inc., Elkahart, Ind., USA) using methylbutane cooled with liquid nitrogen. After cutting 8–10μ tissue sections with a cryostat, individual sections are subjected to various staining protocols. For example, sections are: 1) blocked with goat serum or serum obtained from the same species of fish, 2) incubated with rabbit anti-CaR or anti-PVCR antiserum, and 3) washed and incubated with peroxidase-conjugated affinity-purified goat antirabbit antiserum. The locations of the bound peroxidase-conjugated goat antirabbit antiserum are then visualized by development of a rose-colored aminoethylcarbazole reaction product. Individual sections are mounted, viewed and photographed by standard light microscopy techniques. The anti-CaR antiserum used to detect fish PVCR protein is raised in rabbits using a 23-mer peptide corresponding to amino acids numbers 214–236 localized in the extracellular domain of the RaKCaR protein. The sequence of the 23-mer peptide is: ADDDYGRPGIEKFREEAEERDIC (SEQ ID NO.: 9) A small peptide with the sequence DDYGRPGIEKFREEAEERDICI (SEQ ID NO.: 10) or ARSRNSADGRSGDDLPC (SEQ ID NO.: 11) can also be used to make antisera containing antibodies to PVCRs. Such antibodies can be monoclonal, polyclonal or chimeric.

Suitable labels can be detected directly, such as radioactive, fluorescent or chemiluminescent labels. They can also be indirectly detected using labels such as enzyme labels and other antigenic or specific binding partners like biotin. Examples of such labels include fluorescent labels such as fluorescein, rhodamine, chemiluminescent labels such as luciferase, radioisotope labels such as ³²P, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, enzyme labels such as horseradish peroxidase, and alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, biotin, avidin, spin labels and the like. The detection of antibodies in a complex can also be done immunologically with a second antibody which is then detected (e.g., by means of a label). Conventional methods or other suitable methods can directly or indirectly label an antibody.

In performing the method, the levels of PVCR in various tissues change in comparison to control. Modulated levels or the presence of PVCR expression in various tissues, as compared to a control, indicate that the fish or the population of fish from which a statistically significant amount of fish were tested, are ready for transfer to freshwater. A control refers to a level of PVCR, if any, from a fish that is not subjected to the steps of the present invention.

The PVCRs can also be assayed by Northern blot analysis of mRNA from tissue samples. Northern blot analysis from various shark tissues has revealed that the highest degree of PVCRs expression is in gill tissue, followed by the kidney and the rectal gland. There appear to be at least three distinct mRNA species of about 7 kb, 4.2 kb and 2.6 kb.

The PVCRs can also be assayed by hybridization, e.g., by hybridizing one of the PVCR sequences provided herein or an oligonucleotide derived from one of the sequences, to a DNA-containing tissue sample from a fish. Such a hybridization sequence can have a detectable label, e.g., radioactive, fluorescent, etc., attached to allow the detection of hybridization product. Methods for hybridization are well known, and such methods are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,490, by Jacobs et al., the entire teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. The design of the oligonucleotide probe should preferably follow these parameters: (a) it should be designed to an area of the sequence which has the fewest ambiguous bases (“N's”), if any, and (b) it should be designed to have a T_(m) of approx. 80° C. (assuming 2° C. for each A or T and 4 degrees for each G or C).

Stringency conditions for hybridization refers to conditions of temperature and buffer composition which permit hybridization of a first nucleic acid sequence to a second nucleic acid sequence, wherein the conditions determine the degree of identity between those sequences which hybridize to each other. Therefore, “high stringency conditions” are those conditions wherein only nucleic acid sequences which are very similar to each other will hybridize. The sequences can be less similar to each other if they hybridize under moderate stringency conditions. Still less similarity is needed for two sequences to hybridize under low stringency conditions. By varying the hybridization conditions from a stringency level at which no hybridization occurs, to a level at which hybridization is first observed, conditions can be determined at which a given sequence will hybridize to those sequences that are most similar to it. The precise conditions determining the stringency of a particular hybridization include not only the ionic strength, temperature, and the concentration of destabilizing agents such as formamide, but also on factors such as the length of the nucleic acid sequences, their base composition, the percent of mismatched base pairs between the two sequences, and the frequency of occurrence of subsets of the sequences (e.g., small stretches of repeats) within other non-identical sequences. Washing is the step in which conditions are set so as to determine a minimum level of similarity between the sequences hybridizing with each other. Generally, from the lowest temperature at which only homologous hybridization occurs, a 1% mismatch between two sequences results in a 1° C. decrease in the melting temperature (T_(m)) for any chosen SSC concentration. Generally, a doubling of the concentration of SSC results in an increase in the T_(m) of about 17° C. Using these guidelines, the washing temperature can be determined empirically, depending on the level of mismatch sought. Hybridization and wash conditions are explained in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Ausubel, F. M. et al., eds., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1995, with supplemental updates) on pages 2.10.1 to 2.10.16, and 6.3.1 to 6.3.6.

High stringency conditions can employ hybridization at either (1) 1×SSC (10×SSC=3 M NaCl, 0.3 M Na₃-citrate.2H₂O (88 g/liter), pH to 7.0 with 1 M HCl), 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65° C., (2) 1×SSC, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42° C., (3) 1% bovine serum albumin (fraction V), 1 mM Na₂.EDTA, 0.5 M NaHPO₄ (pH 7.2) (1 M NaHPO₄=134 g Na₂HPO₄.7H₂O, 4 ml 85% H₃PO₄ per liter), 7% SDS, 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65° C., (4) 50% formamide, 5×SSC, 0.02 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 1× Denhardt's solution (100×=10 g Ficoll 400, 10 g polyvinylpyrrolidone, 10 g bovine serum albumin (fraction V), water to 500 ml), 10% dextran sulfate, 1% SDS, 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42° C., (5) 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 1% SDS, 100 μg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65° C., or (6) 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 100 μg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42° C., with high stringency washes of either (1) 0.3–0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C., or (2) 1 mM Na₂.EDTA, 40 mM NaHPO₄ (pH 7.2), 1% SDS at 65° C. The above conditions are intended to be used for DNA—DNA hybrids of 50 base pairs or longer. Where the hybrid is believed to be less than 18 base pairs in length, the hybridization and wash temperatures should be 5–10° C. below that of the calculated T_(m) of the hybrid, where T_(m) in ° C.=(2× the number of A and T bases)+(4× the number of G and C bases). For hybrids believed to be about 18 to about 49 base pairs in length, the T_(m) in ° C.=(81.5° C.+16.6(log₁₀M)+0.41(% G+C)-0.61 (% formamide)-500/L), where “M” is the molarity of monovalent cations (e.g., Na⁺), and “L” is the length of the hybrid in base pairs.

Moderate stringency conditions can employ hybridization at either (1) 4×SSC, (10×SSC=3 M NaCl, 0.3 M Na₃-citrate.2H₂O (88 g/liter), pH to 7.0 with 1 M HCl), 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65° C., (2) 4×SSC, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42° C., (3) 1% bovine serum albumin (fraction V), 1 mM Na₂.EDTA, 0.5 M NaHPO₄ (pH 7.2) (1 M NaHPO₄=134 g Na₂HPO₄.7H₂O, 4 ml 85% H₃PO₄ per liter), 7% SDS, 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65° C., (4) 50% formamide, 5×SSC, 0.02 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 1× Denhardt's solution (100×=10 g Ficoll 400, 10 g polyvinylpyrrolidone, 10 g bovine serum albumin (fraction V), water to 500 ml), 10% dextran sulfate, 1% SDS, 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42° C., (5) 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 1% SDS, 100 μg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65° C., or (6) 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 100 μg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42° C., with moderate stringency washes of 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C. The above conditions are intended to be used for DNA—DNA hybrids of 50 base pairs or longer. Where the hybrid is believed to be less than 18 base pairs in length, the hybridization and wash temperatures should be 5–10° C. below that of the calculated T_(m) of the hybrid, where T_(m) in ° C.=(2× the number of A and T bases)+(4× the number of G and C bases). For hybrids believed to be about 18 to about 49 base pairs in length, the T_(m) in ° C.=(81.5° C.+16.6(log₁₀M)+0.41(% G+C)-0.61 (% formamide)-500/L), where “M” is the molarity of monovalent cations (e.g., Na⁺), and “L” is the length of the hybrid in base pairs.

Low stringency conditions can employ hybridization at either (1) 4×SSC, (10×SSC=3 M NaCl, 0.3 M Na₃-citrate.2H₂O (88 g/liter), pH to 7.0 with 1 M HCl), 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 50° C., (2) 6×SSC, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 40° C., (3) 1% bovine serum albumin (fraction V), 1 mM Na₂.EDTA, 0.5 M NaHPO₄ (pH 7.2) (1 M NaHPO₄=134 g Na₂HPO₄.7H₂O, 4 ml 85% H₃PO₄ per liter), 7% SDS, 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 50° C., (4) 50% formamide, 5×SSC, 0.02 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 1× Denhardt's solution (100×=10 g Ficoll 400, 10 g polyvinylpyrrolidone, 10 g bovine serum albumin (fraction V), water to 500 ml), 10% dextran sulfate, 1% SDS, 0.1–2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 40° C., (5) 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 1% SDS, 100 μg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 50° C., or (6) 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 100 μg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 40° C., with low stringency washes of either 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50° C., or (2) 0.5% bovine serum albumin (fraction V), 1 mM Na₂EDTA, 40 mM NaHPO₄ (pH 7.2), 5% SDS. The above conditions are intended to be used for DNA—DNA hybrids of 50 base pairs or longer. Where the hybrid is believed to be less than 18 base pairs in length, the hybridization and wash temperatures should be 5–10° C. below that of the calculated T_(m) of the hybrid, where T_(m) in ° C.=(2× the number of A and T bases)+(4× the number of G and C bases). For hybrids believed to be about 18 to about 49 base pairs in length, the T_(m) in ° C.=(81.5° C.+16.6(log₁₀M)+0.41(% G+C)-0.61 (% formamide)-500/L), where “M” is the molarity of monovalent cations (e.g., Na⁺), and “L” is the length of the hybrid in base pairs.

The present invention encompasses detection of PVCRs with PCR methods using primers disclosed or derived from sequences described herein. For example, PVCRs can be detected by PCR using the following primers: 5′-TGT CKT GGA CGG AGC CCT TYG GRA TCG C-3′ (SEQ ID NO:12) and 5′-GGC KGG RAT GAA RGA KAT CCA RAC RAT GAA G-3′ (SEQ ID NO:13), where K is T or G, Y is C or T, and R is A or G. PCR is the selective amplification of a target sequence by repeated rounds of nucleic acid replication utilizing sequence-specific primers and a thermostable polymerase. PCR allows recovery of entire sequences between two ends of known sequence. Methods of PCR are described herein and are known in the art.

In particular, the level of aquatic PVCR can be determined in various tissues by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) after isolation of poly A+ RNA from aquatic species. Methods of PCR and RT-PCR are well characterized in the art (See generally, PCR Technology: Principles and Applications for DNA Amplification (ed. H. A. Erlich, Freeman Press, NY, N.Y., 1992); PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications (Eds. Innis, et al., Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., 1990); Mattila et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 19:4967 (1991); Eckert et al., PCR Methods and Applications, 1:17 (1991); PCR (eds. McPherson et al., IRL Press, Oxford); Ausebel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley-Interscience 1987, & Supp. 49, 2000; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202). Briefly, mRNA is extracted from the tissue of interest and reverse transcribed. Subsequently, a PCR reaction is performed with PVCR-specific primers and the presence of the predicted PVCR product is determined, for example, by agarose gel electrophoresis. Examples of PVCR-specific primers are SEQ ID NO.: 12 and/or SEQ ID NO.: 13. The product of the RT-PCR reaction that is performed with PVCR-specific primers is referred to herein as a RT-PCR product. The RT-PCR product can include nucleic acid molecules having part or all of the PVCR sequence. The RT-PCR product can optionally be radioactively labeled and the presence or amount of PVCR product can be determined using autoradiography. Two examples of commercially available fluorescent probes that can be used in such an assay are Molecular Beacons (Stratagene) and Taqman® (Applied Biosystems). Alternative methods of labeling and quantifying the RT-PCR product are well known to one of skill in the art (see Ausebel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley-Interscience 1987, & Supp. 49, 2000. Poly A+ RNA can be isolated from any tissue which contains at least one PVCR by standard methods. Such tissues include, for example, gill, nasal lamellae, urinary bladder, kidney, intestine, stomach, liver and brain.

Hence, the present invention includes kits for the detection of the PVCR in the olfactory apparatus or the quantification of the PVCR in the olfactory apparatus having either antibodies specific for the PVCR or a portion thereof, or a nucleic acid sequence that can hybridize to the nucleic acid of the PVCR.

Alterations in the expression or sensitivity of PVCRs could also be accomplished by introduction of a suitable transgene. Suitable transgenes would include either the PVCR gene itself or modifier genes that would directly or indirectly influence PVCR gene expression in response to a PVCR modulator and/or odorant. Methods for successful introduction, selection and expression of the transgene in fish oocytes, embryos and adults are described in Chen, T T et al., Transgenic Fish, Trends in Biotechnology 8:209–215 (1990).

The present invention provides methods for identifying and/or quantifying the effects of PVCR modulators on olfactory receptor sensing and visa versa. The present invention also includes methods for determining whether a compound is an odorant. When fish are exposed to an odorant (e.g., the odorant binds to olfactory lamellae), the odorant binds to the olfactory epithelium of the fish, which leads to the generation of a nerve impulse. The electric potential of the impulse can be measured using methods known in the art, or those later developed. One example of a method that can be used to measure electric potential is an electroencephalogram, commonly referred to as an EEG. Example 3 describes in detail how to measure nerve impulse of fish, and in particular, as it relates to modulation of the PVCR in the olfactory apparatus of the fish. Briefly, the fish are anaesthetized and placed in V-clamp apparatus where its gills were irrigated continuously with aerated seawater and its nasal lamellae bathed continuously by a stream of distilled water via a tube held in position in the inhalant olfactory opening. The olfactory nerves of the fish were exposed by removal of overlying bony structures. Odorants to be tested can be delivered as boluses to the olfactory epithelium via a 3 way valve where 1 cc of water containing the stimulus was rapidly injected into the tube containing a continuously stream of distilled water. The electrical potentials are obtained using, for example, high resistance tungsten electrodes and can be recorded (Grass Amplifier Apparatus), digitized, displayed. The results can be analyzed by computer using compatible software. The presence of an electrical impulse indicates that the compound being tested is an odorant, and the absence of an electrical impulse indicates the absence of an odorant.

Scientific assays exist which determine whether a compound is a fish odorant. Examples of such tests are behavioral avoidance assays (e.g., to test if a compound is a repellant) and behavioral attractant assays (e.g., to test if a compound is an attractant). Methods for performing such behavioral assays are known in the art and are described, for example, in Royce-Malmgren et al., J. Chemical ecology, 13(3) 533, 546 (1987). Briefly, fish are placed in a maze along with the compound being tested. The fish have the option of swimming toward the compound being tested or swimming away from the compound being tested. If more fish swim toward the compound a statically significant number of times, as compared to a control, then the odorant is determined to be an attractant. Similarly, if more fish swim away from the odorant a statistically significant number of times, as compared to a control, then the odorant is determined to be a repellant. Assays that are later developed for determining whether a compound is a fish attractant or fish repellant can also be used.

Methods of Homing Fish and Repelling Fish

After being imprinted, the invention also embodies exposing the fish, after transfer to seawater, to the odorant. In addition to introducing the odorant by putting it in the feed, the odorant can be placed into the seawater, or adhered to an object that is placed into the seawater in the vicinity of the fish. Accordingly, the present invention pertains to methods of homing or luring fish by imprinting the fish to an attractant, as described herein, and after transferring the fish to seawater, placing the attractant used during the imprinting process on an object. “Homing or luring fish” refers to fish that are attracted to a particular odorant. Examples of such objects are netting or fishing lures. Accordingly, the present invention include methods for homing a fish using attractants that are adhered to netting or fishing lure, as well as the objects having the attractant that was used during the imprinting process. Fisherman or fish hatcheries can benefit from attracting fish for the purpose of catching them or breeding them. In particular, such attractants could be used for a wide variety of applications including methods for salmon homing which include improving the efficiency of ocean ranching of various species of anadromous fish such as salmon, novel species-specific baits for sports fishing, as well as methods to increase yields of commercial hook or net fishing or reduce the capture of valuable but undesired species (by-catch).

The imprinting of freshwater fish with an attractant for use in freshwater can be performed by exposure of the fish to the attractant in freshwater. The most important element of this task is identification of the appropriate odorant that is optimal for freshwater use. As shown in the examples provided, the olfactory nerve signal for certain odorants is diminished or ablated after simultaneous stimulation of an olfactory PVCR. Thus, methods of the present invention would be used to identify ideal freshwater odorants.

The present invention relates to methods for repelling fish in seawater. After being imprinted by the methods described herein, the fish have increased sensitivity to the repellant or combination of repellants used during the imprinting process. Consequently, the fish are sensitized to the repellant used during the imprinting process and are more likely to swim away from the repellant, as compared to repellants that were not imprinted on the fish. The fish are simply exposed to the repellant in any number of ways including placing the repellant used in the imprinting process into the seawater (e.g., by spraying, streaming or otherwise releasing the repellant into the seawater) or by placing the repellant on an object. One example of this method is applying the fish repellant to an object nearby or on an intake to a turbine, a condition that would otherwise pose a hazzard to the fish. Without the repellant, fish swim near the intake and get injured. The methods of repelling the fish, as described herein, allow fish to avoid such dangerous areas. Another example is to coat a barrier netting of ocean netpens that normally contain anadromous fish with a repellant. Coating the barrier netting would deter the escape of enclosed fish since they would avoid the netting due to its repellant content or surroundings.

Another example repelling fish using the methods described herein is for swimmers, surfers, divers, etc. to repel dangerous fish such as sharks. The repellant can consist of a PVCR antagonist that would antagonize or blunt the normal sensing of seawater by at least one PVCR in the olfactory apparatus thereby mimicking the stimulus that fish receive when they encounter freshwater. Since many marine species such as sharks that are restricted to seawater and avoid freshwater environments, the object or person coated with or surrounded by a PVCR antagonist would be avoided by the fish as he/she would be perceived by the fish as surrounded by freshwater.

In particular, the attractants or repellants adhered to these objects (e.g., netting or fishing lure) are those that comprise a PVCR modulator in an amount sufficient to modulate the PVCR in the olfactory sensing apparatus of the fish. The attractant or repellant can be adhered to the object, coated on the surface, impregnated within the object (e.g., rope or netting), or attached in any way to the object so long as the odorant is present in sufficient quantities to allow for the homing or repelling of fish by altering the PVCR in the olfactory sensing apparatus of the fish, as further described herein. The odorant can also be released directly into the seawater. The amount of the odorant will depend on a variety of factors, such as the method for attaching the odorant to the object (e.g., one may need more odorant if the odorant is impregnated into a netting or rope, as compared to simply adhering to the outside of an object), the distance of the fish from the object (e.g., you will need more odorant to attract or repel fish that are farther away), the desired effect of the odorant on the fish (e.g., a stronger odorant response will require more odorant than if one wanted to elicit a weaker response), characteristics of the fish (e.g., weight, size, type of anadromous fish), and the amounts of PVCR modulators that are present in the seawater (e.g., certain PVCR modulators will reduce the response to the odorant, as further described herein). In one experiment, the presence of certain amino acids, which can be odorants, either alone or in combination increase the sensitivity to calcium permitting PVCR to “sense” amino acids in the presence of physiological concentrations of calcium.

The present invention is further and more specifically illustrated by the following Examples, which are not intended to be limiting in any way.

EXEMPLIFICATION

The following examples refer to Process I and Process II throughout. Process I is also referred to herein as “SUPERSMOLT™ I Process.” A “Process I” fish or smolt refers to a fish or smolt that has undergone the steps of Process I. A Process I smolt is also referred to as a “SUPERSMOLT™ I” smolt. Likewise, Process II is also referred to herein as “SUPERSMOLT™ II Process.” A “Process II” fish or smolt refers to a fish or smolt that has undergone the steps of Process II. A Process II smolt is also referred to as a “SUPERSMOLT™ II” smolt.

Process I: Fish including, pre-adult anadromous fish (this includes both commercially produced S0, S1 or S2 smolts as well as smaller parr/smolt fish), are exposed to or maintained in freshwater containing either 2.0–10.0 mM Calcium and 0.5–10.0 mM Magnesium ions. This water is prepared by addition of calcium carbonate and/or chloride and magnesium chloride to the freshwater. Fish are fed with feed pellets containing 7% (weight/weight) NaCl. See Example 2 for further details regarding the feed. Fish are exposed to or maintained in this regimen of water mixture and feed for a total of 30–45 days, using standard hatchery care techniques. Water temperatures vary between 10–16° C. Fish are exposed to a constant photoperiod for the duration of Process I. A fluorescent light is used for the photoperiod.

Process II: Fish, including pre-adult anadromous fish (this includes both commercially produced S0, S1 or S2 smolts as well as smaller parr/smolt fish), are exposed to or maintained in freshwater containing 2.0–10.0 mM Calcium and 0.5–10.0 mM Magnesium ions. This water is prepared by addition of calcium carbonate and/or chloride and magnesium chloride to the freshwater. Fish are fed with feed pellets containing 7% (weight/weight) NaCl and either 2 gm or 4 gm of L-Tryptophan per kg of feed. See Example 2 for further details regarding the feed. Fish are exposed to or maintained in this regimen of water mixture and feed for a total of 30–45 days using standard hatchery care techniques. Water temperatures vary between 10–16° C. Fish are exposed to a constant photoperiod for the duration of Process II. A fluorescent light is used for the photoperiod.

Example 1 Polyvalent Cation-Sensing Receptors (PVCRs) Serve as Salinity Sensors in Fish

Polyvalent cation-sensing receptors (PVCRs) serve as salinity sensors in fish. These receptors are localized to the apical membranes of various cells within the fish's body (e.g., in the gills, intestine, kidney) that are known to be responsible for osmoregulation. A full-length cation receptor (CaR, also referred to as “PVCR”) from the dogfish shark has been expressed in human HEK cells. This receptor was shown to respond to alterations in ionic compositions of NaCl, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in extracellular fluid bathing the HEK cells. The ionic concentrations responded to by this PVCR encompassed the range which includes the transition from freshwater to seawater. Expression of PVCR mRNA is also increased in fish after their transfer from freshwater to seawater, and is modulated by PVCR agonists. Partial genomic clones of PVCRs have also been isolated from other fish species, including winter and summer flounder as well as lumpfish, by using nucleic acid amplification with degenerate primers.

This method was also used to isolate partial genomic clones of PVCRs for Atlantic salmon (FIG. 1), arctic char (FIG. 2) and rainbow trout (FIG. 3). The degenerate oligonucleotide primers used were 5′-TGT CKT GGA CGG AGC CCT TYG GRA TCG C-3′ (SEQ ID NO:12) and 5′-GGC KGG RAT GAA RGA KAT CCA RAC RAT GAA G-3′ (SEQ ID NO:13), where K is T or G, Y is C or T, and R is A or G. The degenerate oligos were generated by standard methodologies (Preston, G. M., 1993, “Polymerase chain reaction with degenerate oligonucleotide primers to clone gene family members,” in: Methods in Mol. Biol., vol. 58, ed. A. Harwood, Humana Press, pp. 303–312). Genomic bands from these three species were amplified, purified by agarose gel electrophoresis, ligated into an appropriate plasmid vector (salmon and arctic char species-pT7 Blue (Novagen, Madison, Wis.; trout used pGem-T (Promega Biotech. Madison, Wis.), and transformed into an appropriate bacterial host strain salmon and arctic char—pT7 vector with NovaBlue (Novagen, Madison, Wis.) and trout pGEM-T used JM-109 E. coli cell which was then grown in liquid medium. The plasmids and inserts were purified from the host cells, and sequenced. FIG. 4 shows the deduced amino acid sequences and alignment for the PVCRs from Atlantic salmon, arctic char and rainbow trout, relative to the PVCR from the kidney of the dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias). The SKCaR amino acid and nucleic acid sequences are shown in FIGS. 4A–H.

Additional PVCR sequences have been isolated and sequences in other species of fish. These sequences include, but are not limited to, PVCRs isolated in salmon (e.g, Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)). The sequences for these species can be found in patent application Ser. No.: 09/687,477, filed on Oct. 12, 2000.

Example 2 The Feed

There are two general methods to prepare feed for consumption by fish as part of Process I and II. These two processes involve either reformulation of feed or addition of a concentrated solution for absorption by the feed followed by a top dressing for palatability. This disclosure describes the methodology to prepare feed using each of these 2 methods.

Methods:

Feed Manufacture for Salmon Experiments

To reformulate feed, the ingredients are as follows: Base Diet was made using the following ingredients and procedure: 30% Squid (liquefied in blender), 70% Corey Aquafeeds flounder diet (powderized in blender). Ingredients were blended into a semi moist “dough” ball. Other ingredients including NaCl or PVCR active compounds were blended into the base diet by weight according to what the experiment called for.

Moore Clark standard freshwater salmonid diet (sizes 1.2, 1.5.2.0, 2.5, and 3.5 mm) can also be used. A top dressing was applied to the pellets such that top dressing is composed of 4% of the weight of the Base Diet. Top dressing is composed of 50% krill hydrolysate (Specialty Marine Products Ltd.) and 50% Menhaden fish oil. The top dressing is added for palatability and sealing of added ingredients.

Other ingredients can include NaCl, MgCl2, CaCl2 or L-Tryptophan that are added by weight to the base diet by weight.

Preparation of Feed Containing 7% (weight/weight) NaCl:

For the Process I: Solid sodium chloride or NaCl apportioned at a ratio of 7% of the weight of the Moore Clark standard freshwater salmonid diet weight was added to a volume of tap water approximately 3–4 times the weight of NaCl. The mixture was heated to 60–70° C. with mixing via use of a magnetic stirring bar to dissolve salt. The NaCl solution was then poured into a hand held sprayer and applied to the Moore Clark standard freshwater salmonid diet that is tumbling inside of a 1.5 cubic meter motorized cement mixer. After absorption of the NaCl rich solution, the wetted Moore Clark standard freshwater salmonid diet is spread out thinly on window screening and placed in an enclosed rack system equipped with a fan and 1500 watt heater to expedite drying process. After drying for approximately 6 hr, the dried NaCl-rich pellets are returned to the cement mixer and a top dressing is applied. The feed is stored at room temperature until use.

Preparation of Feed Containing 7% (weight/weight) NaCl+PVCR Agonist (Tryptophan) For the Process II: Solid sodium chloride or NaCl apportioned at a ratio of 7% of the weight of the Moore Clark standard freshwater salmonid diet weight was added to a volume of tap water approximately 3–4 times the weight of NaCl. The mixture was heated to 60–70° C. with mixing via use of a magnetic stirring bar to dissolve salt. USP Grade L-Tryptophan was added to the water at either 2 grams or 4 grams for every kg of Moore Clark standard freshwater salmonid diet depending on formulation need. Dilute hydrochloric acid was added to the water with mixing until the tryptophan was dissolved and the pH of solution was approximately 4.0. The NaCl+Tryptophan solution was then poured into a hand held sprayer and was then applied to the Moore Clark standard freshwater salmonid diet tumbling inside a cement mixer. After absorption of the NaCl+Tryptophan solution, the wetted Moore Clark standard freshwater salmonid diet is then spread out thinly on window screening and placed in an enclosed rack system equipped with a fan and 1500-watt heater to expedite drying process. After drying for approximately 6 hr, the dried NaCl/Tryptophan-rich pellets are then returned to the cement mixer and a top dressing is applied. The feed is stored at room temperature until use. L-Tryptophan can be replaced with any amino acid, described herein, that modulates PVCR expression.

To make the feed for freshwater for use during the imprinting process that contains the odorant, the steps for making the feed for either Process I or II, as described above, can be followed, and the odorant is simply added to the feed. The amount of odorant added to the feed is between trace amounts to about 100 mg/kg (mg of odorant per kg of feed). The odorant used for the feed can be identified by the methods described herein.

Feed for seawater containing the odorant can be made, for example, by adding the odorant used during the imprinting process to feed typically provided to fish transferred to seawater.

Example 3 Presence and Function of PVCR Protein in Nasal Lamellae and Olfactory Bulb as Well as GI Tract of Fish

The data described herein illustrates the roles of PVCR proteins in the olfactory organs (nasal lamellae and olfactory bulb) of fish as it relates to the ability of fish to sense or “smell” both alterations in the water salinity and/or ionic composition as well as specific amino acids. These data are particularly applicable to anadromous fish (salmon, trout and char) that are either transferred from freshwater directly to seawater or exposed to Process I or Process II in freshwater and then transferred to seawater.

These data described herein were derived from a combination of sources including immunocytochemistry using anti-PVCR antisera, RT-PCR amplification of PVCRs from nasal lamellae tissue, studies of the function of recombinant aquatic PVCR proteins expressed in cultured cells where these proteins “sense” specific ions or amino acids as well as electrophysiological recordings of nerve cell electrical activity from olfactory nerves or bulb of freshwater salmon.

The combination of immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR data, described herein, reveal the presence of PVCR proteins in both major families of fish (elasmobranch-shark; teleost-salmon) in both larval, juvenile and adult life stages. Immunocytochemistry analyses reveal that one or more PVCR proteins are present both on portions of olfactory receptor cells located in the nasal lamellae of fish (where they are bathed in water from the surrounding environment) as well as on nerve cells that compose olfactory glomeruli present in the olfactory bulb of fish brain (where these cells are exposed to the interval ionic environment of the fish's body). Thus, from these locations fish are able to compare the ionic composition of the surrounding water with reference to their own internal ionic composition. Alterations in the expression and/or sensitivity of PVCR proteins provides the means to enable fish to determine on a continuous basis whether the water composition they encounter is different from that they have been adapted to or exposed to previously. This system is likely to be integral to both the control of internal body composition of fish as well as the homing of salmon from freshwater to seawater and visa versa. Thus, fish have the ability to “smell” changes in water salinity directly via PVCR proteins and respond appropriately to both regulate their body composition and remain in environments that are best for their survival in nature.

One feature of this biological system is alteration in the sensitivity of the PVCR protein for divalent cations such as Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ by changes in the NaCl concentration of the water. Thus, PVCRs in fish olfactory organs have different apparent sensitivity to Ca²⁺ in either the presence or absence of NaCl. These data presented here are the first direct evidence for these functions via PVCR proteins present in the olfactory apparatus of fish.

Another feature of PVCR protein function in the olfactory apparatus of fish is to modulate responses of olfactory cells to specific odorants (attractants or repellants). Transduction of cellular signals resulting from the binding of specific odorants to olfactory cells occurs via changes in standing ionic gradients across the plasma membranes of these cells. The binding of specific odorants to olfactory cells results in electrical nerve conduction signals that can be recorded using standardize electrophysiological electrodes and equipment. Using this apparatus, the olfactory apparatus of freshwater adapted salmon:

-   -   1. responded to PVCR agonists in a concentration-dependent         manner similar to that shown previously for other fish tissues         including that shown for winter flounder urinary bladder. These         data provide the functional evidence of the presence of a PVCR         protein; and     -   2. that the presence of a PVCR agonist reduces or ablates the         signal resulting from odorants including both attractants or         repellants. Thus, PVCRs in the olfactory apparatus of salmon         possess the capacity of modulating responses to various         odorants.

Another feature of PVCR proteins is their ability to “sense” specific amino acids present in surrounding environment. Using the full-length recombinant SKCaR cDNA, functional SKCaR protein was expressed in HEK cells and shown to respond in a concentration-dependent manner to both single and mixtures of L-amino acids. Since PVCR agonists including amino acids as well as polyamines (putrescine, spermine and spermidine) are attractants to marine organisms including fish and crustaceans, these data provide for another means by which PVCR proteins would serve not only as modulators of olfaction in fish but also as sensors of amino acids and polyamines themselves. PVCR proteins in other organs of fish including G.I. tract and endocrine organs of fish also function to sense specific concentrations of amino acids providing for integration of a wide variety of cellular processes in epithelial cells (amino acid transport, growth, ion transport, motility and growth) with digestion and utilization of nutrients in fish.

Description of Experimental Results and Data Interpretation:

PVCR protein and mRNA are localized to the olfactory lamellae, olfactory nerve and olfactory bulb of freshwater adapted larval, juvenile and adult Atlantic salmon as well as the olfactory lamellae of dogfish shark:

FIG. 5 show representative immunocytochemistry photographs of PVCR protein localization in olfactory bulb and nerve as well as olfactory lamellae in juvenile Atlantic salmon. The specificity of staining for PVCR protein is verified by the use of 2 distinct antisera each directed to a different region of the PVCR protein. Thus, antiserum anti-4641 (recognizing an extracellular domain PVCR region) and antiserum anti-SKCaR (recognizing an intracellular domain PVCR region) exhibit similar staining patterns that include various glomeruli on serial sections of olfactory bulb. Using anti-SKCaR antiserum, specific staining of PVCR proteins is observed in discrete regions of the olfactory nerve as well as epithelial cells in the nasal lamellae that are exposed to the external ionic environment.

The presence of PVCR protein in both nasal lamellae cells as well as olfactory bulb and nerve shows that these respective PVCR proteins would be able to sense both the internal and external ionic environments of the salmon. For this purpose, cells containing internally-exposed PVCRs are connected to externally-exposed PVCRs via electrical connections within the nervous system. As shown schematically in FIG. 6, these data suggest that externally and internally-exposed PVCRs function together to provide for the ability to sense the ionic concentrations of the surrounding ionic environment using as a reference the ionic concentration of the salmon's body fluids. Changes in the expression and/or sensitivity of the external set of PVCRs vs internal PVCRs would then provide a long term “memory” of the adaptational state of the fish as it travels through ionic environments of different composition. FIG. 7 shows immunocytochemistry using anti-SKCaR antiserum that reveals the presence of PVCR protein in both the developing nasal lamellae cells and olfactory bulb of larval Atlantic salmon only days after hatching (yolk sac stage). As described herein, imprinting of salmon early in development as well as during smoltification have been shown to be key intervals in the successful return of wild salmon to their natal stream. The presence of PVCR proteins at these developmental stages of salmon lifecycle indicate that PVCRs participate in this process.

Data obtained from using anti-SKCaR antiserum from other fish species including elasmobranchs display similar staining of PVCR protein in cells (marked A) their nasal lamellae (FIG. 8). Use of other methodology including RT-PCR using specific degenerate primers (FIG. 9) and ELISA methods (FIG. 10) detects the presence of PVCR proteins and mRNA in nasal lamellae of fish. While neither of these 2 techniques provide quantitative measurements as described, both sets of data are consistent and show abundant PVCR protein present in this tissue.

Measurement of extracellular electrical potentials (EEG's) from olfactory nerve from freshwater adapted Atlantic salmon reveals the presence of functional PVCR proteins:

FIG. 11 displays representative recordings obtained from 6 fish freshwater adapted juvenile Atlantic salmon (approximately 300–400 gm) using methods similar to those described in Bodznick, D. J. Calcium ion: an odorant for natural water discriminations and the migratory behavior of sockeye salmon, Comp. Physiol. A 127:157–166 (1975), and Hubbard, P C, et al., Olfactory sensitivity to changes in environmental Ca2+ in the marine teleost Sparus Aurata, J. Exp. Biol. 203:3821–3829 (2000). After anaesthetizing the fish, it was placed in V-clamp apparatus where its gills were irrigated continuously with aerated seawater and its nasal lamellae bathed continuously by a stream of distilled water via a tube held in position in the inhalant olfactory opening. The olfactory nerves of the fish were exposed by removal of overlying bony structures. Stimuli were delivered as boluses to the olfactory epithelium via a 3 way valve where 1 cc of water containing the stimulus was rapidly injected into the tube containing a continuously stream of distilled water. Extracellular recordings were obtained using high resistance tungsten electrodes where the resultant amplified analog signals (Grass Amplifier Apparatus) were digitized, displayed and analyzed by computer using MacScope software. Using this experimental approach, stable and reproducible recordings could be obtained for up to 6 hr after the initial surgery on the fish.

As shown in FIG. 11, irrigation of salmon olfactory epithelium with distilled water produces minimal generation of large signals in olfactory nerve. The data in FIG. 11 are displayed as both raw recordings (left column) and the corresponding integrated signals for each raw recording shown in the right column. Exposure to the olfactory epithelium to 500 micromolar L-alanine (a well known amino acid attractant for fish) produces large increases in both the firing frequency and amplitude in the olfactory nerve lasting approximately 2 seconds in duration. Similarly, application of either 1 mM Ca²⁺ or 250 mM NaCl also produce responses in EEG activity. To test for the presence of functional PVCR protein, the olfactory epithelium was exposed to 50 micromolar gadolinium (Gd³⁺-a PVCR agonist) and also obtained a response. FIG. 12A shows dose response data from multiple fish to various PVCR agonists or modulators where the relative magnitudes of individual olfactory nerve response were normalized relative to the response produced by the exposure of the olfactory epithelium to 10 mM Ca²⁺. As shown in FIG. 12A, the olfactory epithelium of freshwater adapted juvenile salmon is very sensitive to Ca²⁺ where the half maximal excitatory response (EC₅₀) is approximately 1–10 micromolar. Similarly, exposure of olfactory epithelium to the PVCR agonist Gd³⁺ produces responses of a similar magnitude to those evoked by Ca²⁺ in a concentration range of 1–10 micromolar. In contrast, olfactory epithelium responses to Mg²⁺ do not occur until 10–100 micromolar solutions are applied. These dose response curves (EC₅₀ Gd⁺³≦Ca²⁺≦Mg²⁺) are similar to those obtained for PVCR modulated responses in other fish epithelium (flounder urinary bladder NaCl-mediated water transport-see SKCaR application).

In contrast, analysis of the olfactory epithelium responses to NaCl exposure shows that it is unresponsive until a concentration of 250 millimolar NaCl is applied. Since NaCl does not directly activate PVCRs in a manner such as Gd⁺³ Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ but rather reduces the sensitivity of PVCRs to these agonists, these data are also consistent with the presence of an olfactory epithelium PVCR. The response evoked by exposure of the epithelium to significant concentrations of NaCl likely occurs via other PVCR independent mechanisms.

These data suggest that PVCR proteins present in olfactory epithelium are capable of sensing and generating corresponding olfactory nerve signals in response to PVCR agonists at appropriate concentrations in distilled water.

Additional data, shown in FIGS. 12B–12D provide support for the presence of a functional PVCR protein(s) in the nasal lamellae of Atlantic salmon with a sensitivity profile similar to that displayed by mammalian CaR proteins. FIG. 12B shows a more complete characterization of the response of freshwater adapted Atlantic salmon smolt olfactory responses to various PVCR agonists (Mg2+, Gd3+ and Ca2+) and a single antagonist (NaCl). These data extend the data described above.

FIG. 12C shows how the PVCR agonist (Ca2+) reduces the olfactory response produced by exposure of Atlantic salmon olfactory epithelia to 500 mM NaCl. Note that the presence of 10 mM Ca2+ in a 500 mM NaCl solution produces a response that is identical to that produced by artificial seawater (ASW) exposure.

FIG. 12D shows the quantitative responses of various PVCR agonists to reduce the large response produced by irrigation of the nasal lamellae with 500 mM NaCl. Note that Ca2+ free and divalent free seawater produce a response that is similar in magnitude to that displayed after exposure to 500 mM NaCl alone. By contrast, inclusion of one PVCR agonist including 1 mM Mg2+, 1 mM Ca2+, 1 mM Sr2+ or 50 micromolar Gd3+ all significantly reduce the olfactory response to 500 mM NaCl similar to that elicited by irrigation of the nasal lamellae with artificial seawater (ASW). All of these responses are greater than that elicited by irrigation of the nasal lamellae with distilled water.

These data demonstrate that PVCR agonists are capable of modulating the olfactory response of Atlantic salmon.

Method for Stimuli and Stimulus Delivery: used to obtain the data described in FIGS. 12B–12D were obtained as follows:

Stimuli were delivered to the olfactory epithelium via a glass capillary tube placed in the inhalant olfactory opening. This tube was connected to a gravity fed tubing system allowing for switching from a background perfusion (charcoal filtered freshwater) to an experimental stimulus while maintaining a flow rate of 6–8 m/min. Verification of the location of the stimulus delivery tubes and electrode was made by observing responses to a ‘search stimulus’ of 1 mL ξ-alanine.

Stimuli consisted of CaR agonists (CaCl₂, MgCl₂, GdCl₃, SrCl₂ and NaCl (Sigma-Aldrich), control freshwater stimulus (charcoal filtered tap water) and control seawater stimuli (ASW, Ca-free ASW, Divalent free ASW). Stimuli were presented alone or in combination with 500 mM NaC 1. Ringers and artificial seawater recipes were obtained from the Biological Bulletin Compendia (all concentrations are in mM) ASW (nAcl 423, KCl 9.0, CaCl₂ 22.94, MgSO₄ 25.50, NaHCO₃ 2.14, pH 8.0); Ca-free ASW (NaCl 436.71, KCl 9.0, MgCl₂ 22.94, MgSO₄, 25.5, NaHCO₃ 2.14, pH 8.0); Divalent free ASW (NaCl 461.85, KCl 10.73, NAHCO₃ 2.14, Na2SO₄ 7.04, pH 8.0); FW Teleost Ringer's (NaCl 111.0, KCl 5.37, Cacl₂ 1.0, MgSO₄, 0.6, HEPES 5.0, pH 7.3).

Addition of PVCR agonists such as Ca2+ or Gd3+ to distilled water containing well known salmon repellants reversibly ablates the response of the olfactory epithelium to these stimuli:

FIG. 13 shows representative data obtained from a single continuous recording where the olfactory epithelium was first exposed to a well-known repellant, mammalian finger rinse. Finger rinse is obtained by simply rinsing human fingers of adherent oils and fatty acids using distilled water and has been shown previously to be a powerful repellant stimulus both in EEG recordings as well as behavioral avoidance assays (Royce-Malmgren and W. H Watson J. Chem. Ecology 13:533–546 (1987)). Note however that inclusion of the PVCR agonists 5 mM Ca²⁺ or 50 micromolar Gd³⁺ reversibly ablated the response by the olfactory epithelium to mammalian finger rinse. These data show that PVCR agonists modulated the response of the olfactory epithelium to an odorant such as mammalian finger rinse. The ablation of responses to both the PVCR agonists as shown in FIG. 12A as well as mammalian finger rinse indicate that there are some complex interactions between PVCR proteins and other odorant receptors. It is also extremely unlikely that inclusion of PVCR agonists removed all the stimulatory components of mammalian finger rinse from solution such that they were not able to stimulate the epithelium.

Addition of PVCR agonists such as Ca2+ or Gd3+ but not NaCl to distilled water containing the well known salmon attractant L-alanine reversibly ablates the response of the olfactory epithelium to these stimuli:

FIG. 14 shows a time series of stimuli (2 min between each stimulus in a single fish) similar to that displayed on FIG. 13 except that 500 micromolar L-Alanine (a salmon attractant) was used to produce a signal in the olfactory nerve. Note that the addition of either 5 mM Ca²⁺ (recording #2) or 50 micromolar Gd³⁺ (recording #7) to 500 micromolar L-alanine resulted in the complete loss of the corresponding response from the olfactory nerve after injection of this mixture. In both cases, this was not due to a permanent alteration of the olfactory epithelium by either of these PVCR agonists because a subsequent identical stimulus without the PVCR agonist (recordings #3 and #8) caused a return of the signal. It is noteworthy that in the case of Gd³⁺ addition, the magnitude of the subsequent L-alanine signal was decreased as compared to control (compare recordings #6 vs #8) indicating that the olfactory epithelium prefers an interval of recovery from its exposure to this potent PVCR agonist. However, the alteration of response to the L-Alanine stimulus is not permanent or nonspecific since combining the same dose of L-Alanine with 250 mM NaCl resulted initially in a similar response (recordings #4 and #9) followed by an enhanced response to L-Alanine alone (recordings #5 and #10).

In summary, the data displayed in FIGS. 13 and 14 show that inclusion of a PVCR agonist in solutions containing either a repellant (finger rinse) or attractant (L-alanine) causes a dramatic reduction in the response of the olfactory epithelium to those odorants. For both repellants and attractants, some form of complex interactions occur within olfactory epithelial cells since mixing of PVCR agonists and odorants renders the epithelia temporary unresponsive to either stimulus. While the nature of such interactions are not known at the present time, such interactions do not occur at the level of the PVCR molecule itself as shown by data from experiments using recombinant PVCR protein SKCaR. As further described herein, inclusion of amino acids in the presence of Ca²⁺ enhances the response of SKCaR to ambient Ca²⁺ concentrations. Regardless of their nature, these negative modulatory effects of PVCR agonists including Ca²⁺ is likely to produce major effects on how freshwater salmon smell objects in their environment after transfer from a low calcium to a high calcium environment. Use of this assay system would permit the identification and analyses of both specific classes of PVCR agonists and antagonists as well as the specific effects of each PVCR modulator on specific odorants including both repellants and attractants. Recombinant PVCR protein SKCaR possesses the capability to sense concentrations of amino acids after its expression in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells:

Full length recombinant dogfish (Squalus acanthias) shark kidney calcium receptor (SKCaR) was expressed in human embryonic kidney cells using methods described herein. The ability of SKCaR to respond to individual amino acids as well as various mixtures was quantified using FURA-2 ratio imaging fluorescence.

FIG. 15 shows a comparison of fluorescence tracings of FURA2-loaded cells stably expressing SKCAR that were bathed in physiological saline (125 mM NaCl, 4 mM KCl, 0.5 mM CaCl₂, 0.5 MgCl₂, 20 mM HEPES (NaOH), 0.1% D-glucose pH 7.4) in the presence or absence of 10 mM L-Isoleucine (L-Ile) before being placed into the fluorimeter. Baseline extracellular Ca²⁺ concentration was 0.5 mM. Aliquots of Ca²⁺ were added to produce final extracellular concentrations of 2.5 mM, 5 mM, 7.5 mM, 10 mM and 20 mM Ca²⁺ with changes in the fluorescence recorded. Note that increases in cell fluorescence were greater in the presence of 10 mM Phe for extracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations less than 10 mM.

FIG. 16 shows data plotted from multiple experiments as described in FIG. 15 where the effects of 10 mM Phe, 10 mM Ile or an amino acid mixture (AA Mixture) containing all L-isomers in the following concentrations in micromoles/liter: 50 Phe, 50 Trp, 80 His, 60 Tyr, 30 Cys, 300 Ala, 200 Thr, 50 Asn, 600 Gln, 125 Ser, 30 Glu, 250 Gly, 180 Pro, 250 Val, 30 Met, 10 Asp, 200 Lys, 100 Arg, 75 Ile, 150 Leu. Note that both 10 mM Phe and 10 mM Ile as well as the mixture of amino acids increase SKCaR's response to a given Ca²⁺ concentration. Thus, these data show that presence of amino acids either alone or in combination increase the apparent sensitivity to Ca²⁺ permitting SKCaR to “sense” amino acids in the presence of physiological concentrations of Ca²⁺. These data obtained for SKCaR are comparable to those obtained for the human CaR.

The significance of these data for aquatic organisms stand in marked contrast to the roles of human CaRs amino acid sensing capabilities. FIG. 15 shows that SKCaR's maximal capability to sense amino acids is confined to a range of Ca²⁺ that is present both in aquatic external environments as well as the body fluids of various fish. The following physiological processes occur: 1) Sensing of amino acids in the proximal intestine and pyloric caeca of fish: The PVCR present on the apical surface of intestinal epithelial cells is capable of responding to amino acids such as tryptophan as part of the Process II. Inclusion of tryptophan in the feed of fish interacts with the intestinal PVCR to improve the development of juvenile anadromous fish to tolerate seawater transfer. 2) In both adult, juvenile and larval fish, PVCR localized to the apical membrane of stomach and intestinal epithelial cells could “sense” the presence of amino acids produced by the proteolysis of proteins into amino acids. This mechanism could be used to inform both epithelial and neuroendocrine cells of the intestine of the presence of nutrients (proteins) and trigger a multitude of responses including growth and differentiation of intestinal epithelia as well as their accompanying transport proteins, secretion or reabsorption of ions such as gastric acid. The apical PVCR also regulates the secretion of intestinal hormones such as cholecystokin (CCK) and others. 3) PVCR proteins present in cells of the nasal lamellae of fish to “smell” both water salinity (via Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and NaCl) and amino acids which is an example of an attractant. At the present time, it is unclear whether the amino acid sensing capabilities of PVCRs are utilized by the olfactory epithelium to enable fish to smell various amino acid attractants.

These data show that PVCR sensing of amino acids occurs in a range of extracellular calcium that is present in various concentrations of seawater present in estuaries and fish migration routes as well as various compartments of a fish's body including serum and body cavities including intestine, pyloric caeca and kidney. where transepithelial amino acid absorption occurs. These data constitute the first report showing the amino acid sensitivity of a PVCR in fish.

Example 4 Olfactory Nerve Recordings of Freshwater Adapted Atlantic Salmon Under Conditions that Simulate Freshwater to Seawater Transfer

FIG. 17 shows a representative recording obtained from a single freshwater adapted Atlantic salmon smolt. The upper left hand panel shows a recording of electrical impulses obtained from the olfactory nerve of these fish during an interval when distilled water is used to irrigate their nasal lamellae. Note that because these fish are freshwater-adapted, only rare large deflections (indicated by 2 dashed arrows) of the recording record are observed after irrigation of the nasal lamellae with distilled water (larger downward arrow). By contrast, if the nasal lamellae of the same fish is now irrigated with artificial seawater (lower panel-arrow), there is now the onset of multiple large scale electrical impulses that prevent the detection of specific odorants such as L-Ala (shown at upper right during perfusion with distilled water). These data show what occurs to freshwater adapted Atlantic salmon smolt when they are transferred from freshwater directly to seawater, and are not subject to the methods of the present invention. As disclosed herein, these data show that there is a temporary interval where freshwater adapted fish are unable to optimally smell or detect food in seawater due to the dramatic change in their surrounding ionic environment. This phenomenon likely is responsible for the significantly decreased feeding exhibited by such fish during the interval following seawater transfer. In contrast, anadromous fish that are transferred from freshwater directly to seawater after exposure to Process I or Process II in freshwater begin feeding 48 hours after seawater transfer. The observed difference in food consumption between control vs. fish treated with the methods of the present invention during the interval immediately after seawater transfer is modulation of the expression and/or sensitivity of at least PVCR in the olfactory organs of these fish.

Companion patent application Ser. No. 09/687,373, entitled “Growing Marine Fish in Fresh Water,” filed on Oct. 12, 2000; patent application Ser. No. 09/687,476, entitled “Methods for Raising Pre-adult Anadromous Fish,” filed on Oct. 12, 2000; patent application Ser. No. 09/687,372, entitled “Methods for Raising Pre-adult Anadromous Fish,” filed on Oct. 12, 2000; patent application Ser. No. 09/687,477, entitled “Methods for Raising Pre-adult Anadromous Fish,” filed on Oct. 12, 2000 Provisional Patent Application No. 60/240,392, entitled “Polyvalent Cation Sensing Receptor Proteins in Aquatic Species,” filed on Oct. 12, 2000; Provisional Patent Application No. 60/240,003, entitled “Polyvalent Cation Sensing Receptor Proteins in Aquatic Species,” filed on Oct. 12, 2000; patent application Ser. No. 09/975,553, entitled “Methods for Raising Pre-adult Anadromous Fish,” filed Oct. 11, 2001; PCT Patent Application No.: PCT/US01/31562, entitled “Polyvalent Cation Sensing Receptor in Aquatic Species,” filed Oct. 11, 2001; Patent Application No.: PCT/US01/31625, entitled “Growing Marine Fish in Fresh Water,” filed Oct. 11, 2001; are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Additionally, application Ser. No. 09/162,021, filed on Sep. 28, 1998, International PCT application No. PCT/US97/05031, filed on Mar. 27, 1997, and application Ser. No. 08/622,738 filed Mar. 27, 1996, all entitled, “Polycation Sensing Receptor in Aquatic Species and Methods of Use Thereof” are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Nearing, J. et al., “Polyvalent Cation Receptor Proteins (CaRs) are salinity Sensors in Fish,” PNAS 99(14): 9231–9236 (2002) is incorporated by referenced in its entirety.

All relevant portions of literature articles, references, patent applications, patent publications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entirety.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. 

1. A method of imprinting fish in water with at least one odorant for said fish and causing the imprinted fish to react to said odorant, said method comprises: a. adding at least one Polyvalent Cation Sensing Receptor (PVCR) modulator to the water in an amount sufficient to modulate expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR, said PVCR modulator being one which alters olfactory sensing of the fish to the odorant; b. adding feed for fish consumption to the water, said feed containing said odorant and an agent sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of said PVCR modulator in serum of the fish upon consumption of the feed, whereby the fish are imprinted with the odorant; and c. providing a source of said odorant in the water in which the fish are maintained or transferred, thereby causing the imprinted fish to react to said odorant.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent that contributes to a significantly increased level of said PVCR modulator in serum of the fish is NaCl.
 3. A method of imprinting fish in water with at least one odorant for said fish and causing the imprinted fish to react to said odorant, said method comprises: a. adding at least one PVCR modulator to the water in an amount sufficient to modulate expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR, said PVCR modulator being one which alters olfactory sensing of the fish to the odorant; b. adding feed for fish consumption to the water, said feed containing an amount of an agent sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of said PVCR modulator in serum of the fish upon consumption of the feed; c. adding said odorant to the water, whereby the fish are imprinted with the odorant; and d. providing a source of said odorant in the water to which the imprinted fish are maintained or transferred, thereby causing the imprinted fish to react to said odorant.
 4. A method of imprinting fish in water with at least one repellant for said fish, said method comprises: a. adding at least one PVCR modulator to the water in an amount sufficient to modulate expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR, said PVCR modulator being one which alters olfactory sensing of the fish to the repellant; b. adding feed for fish consumption to the water, the feed containing an amount of an agent sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of said PVCR modulator in serum of the fish upon consumption of the feed; and c. adding a source of the repellant to the water, whereby the fish are imprinted with the repellant.
 5. A method of imprinting fish in freshwater with at least one odorant for said fish and causing the imprinted fish to react to said odorant in seawater, wherein the fish are maintained in freshwater prior to transfer to seawater, said method comprises: a. adding at least one PVCR modulator to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to modulate expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR, said PVCR modulator being one which alters olfactory sensing of the fish to the odorant; b. adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, said feed containing said odorant and an agent sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of said PVCR modulator in serum of the fish upon consumption of the feed, whereby the fish are imprinted with the odorant; c. transferring the imprinted fish to seawater; and d. providing a source of said odorant in the seawater to which the imprinted fish are transferred, thereby causing the imprinted fish to react to said odorant.
 6. A method of imprinting fish in freshwater with at least one odorant for said fish and causing the imprinted fish to react to said odorant in seawater, wherein the fish are maintained in freshwater prior to transfer to seawater, said method comprises: a. adding at least one PVCR modulator to the freshwater in an amount sufficient to modulate expression and/or sensitivity of at least one PVCR, said PVCR modulator being one which alters olfactory sensing of the fish to the odorant; b. adding feed for fish consumption to the freshwater, said feed containing an amount of an agent sufficient to contribute to a significantly increased level of said PVCR modulator in serum of the fish upon consumption of the feed; c. adding said odorant to the freshwater, whereby the fish are imprinted with the odorant; d. transferring the imprinted fish to seawater; and e. providing a source of said odorant in the seawater to which the imprinted fish are transferred, thereby causing the imprinted fish to react to said odorant.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the odorant is a fish attractant or fish repellant. 